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THE    LIFE 


OF 


PETER  VAN  SCHAACK,  LL.  D. 


"^9^       ^ 


■■^ 


Trupmhrull 


l''.ngravt.d.bv  J.N  Gimbrede 


'/cuhL^^c^ftAZ^a^f^^ ' 


^^Ur  CuyL^>. 


THE 


LIFE 


OP 


PETER  VAN  SCHAACK,  LL.  D., 


EMBRACING   SELECTIONS    FROM    HIS 


CORRESPONDENCE  AND  OTHER  WRITINGS, 


DURING   THE 


Jliucrican   luDolution, 


AND 


HIS     EXILE      IN      ENGLAND. 


BY   HIS    SON 

HENRY  C.  VAN  SCHAACK. 


Superanda  fortuna  ferendo. 


NEW-YORK  : 
D.   APPLETON    &.    CO.,    200    BROADWAY. 

MDCCCXLII. 


V 


^•c? 


Anonymous 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1842,  by 

HENRY  C.  VAN  SCHAACK, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Northern  District  of  New- York. 


University  Press, 
JOHN  F.  TROW,  PRINTER 

IM  Nassau-street, 
New- York. 


^ 


PREFACE. 


As  the  biography  of  an  eminent  American,  of  ele- 
vated character,  of  high  integrity,  and  of  honorable 
association,  who,  in  sentiment,  was  opposed  to  ta- 
king up  arms  in  the  American  Revolution,  this  work 
— composed  as  it  mainly  is  of  original  contempora- 
neous materials,  which  may  help  to  guide  the  future 
historian — will,  it  is  believed,  not  be  without  its  value. 

Although  a  new  field  for  historic  research  seemed 
to  open  to  his  view,  and  to  tempt  investigation,  the 
author  has  aimed  to  confine  himself  within  the  lines  of 
biography,  without  invading  the  department  of  politi- 
cal philosophy,  or  unnecessarily  encroaching  upon  the 
province  of  history ;  and  yet  a  large  share  of  his  ma- 
terials possess  the  qualification  of  being  at  once  auto- 
biographical and  historical. 

The  author  is  sincerely  and  deeply  impressed  with 
the  conviction,  that  in  other  and  abler  hands  the  same 
materials  would  have  led  to  a  more  philosophic  work  ; 
but  as  it  seemed  probable  that  the  manuscripts  and  in- 
formation in  his  possession  w^ould  be  lost  to  the  public 


B 


VI  PREFACE. 

unless  submitted  by  himself,  a  sense  of  duty  to  that 
public,  and  his  obligations  to  the  memory  of  the  sub- 
ject of  this  memoir,  would  not  leave  his  mind  at  ease 
in  withholding  their  publication,  although  aware  that 
his  limited  acquirements  would  expose  his  effort  to 
criticism. 

The  work  is  now  submitted  to  the  public,  not 
without  apprehensions  as  to  its  reception,  and  yet  with 
a  somewhat  confident  expectation  that  it  will  be 
found  interesting  as  a  biography,  and  as  a  novel  con- 
tribution to  the  history  of  the  American  Revolution. 

The  Author. 
Manlius,  N.  Y.,  April,  1842. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

Ancestry  of  Peter  Van  Schaack. — Uncouth  family  name. — Anecdote  in  re- 
lation thereto. — His  parents  uneducated. — Their  character. — His  birth. — Brief 
notice  of  Henry  Van  Schaack,  his  elder  brother,  and  an  officer  in  the  French 
war. — He  pursues  classical  studies  with  Rev.  Richard  Charlton,  on  Staten 
Island. — Enters  King's  College. — Becomes  acquainted  with  Jay,  Benson,  Har- 
rison, Morris,  and  others. — Is  privately  married  while  in  College  to  Elizabeth 
Cruger. — Displeasure  of  the  lady's  father. — Acquires  his  father-in-law's  con- 
fidence.—  Commences  the  study  of  law  with  Peter  Silvester,  at  Albany. — Re- 
moves to  New-York. — Enters  the  office  of  William  Smith. —  I?  licensed  to  prac- 
tise.— Opens  an  office  in  New-York. — Flattering  professional  prospects. — Let- 
ters to  Peter  Silvester  and  Henry  Van  Schaack. — Letter  from  Egbert  Benson. 
— Lawvers  in  New-York  enter  into  an  Association  called  "  the  Moot.'' — High 
character  of  the  club  and  of  its  decisions. — His  early  precision  in  professional 
business. — Is  appointed  sole  reviser  of  the  Colonial  Statutes,  at  the  age  of  26. 
— Executes  the  trust  in  a  creditable  manner. — His  vision  is  impaired  by  the  la- 
bor of  preparing  this  work. — Assumes  a  high  stand  in  his  profession. — His 
flattering  prospects  disturbed  by  domestic  afflictions  and  by  the  Revolu- 
tion, .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  p.   L 

CHAPTER     II. 

News  of  the  passage  of  the  Boston  Port  Bill  is  received  in  New-York. — Mr. 
Van  Schaack  is  appointed  a  member  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence. — 
He  enters  upon  the  duties  of  Committee-man. — Letter  to  Peter  Silvester. — 
Acts  with  the  committee  until  its  dissolution. — Letter  from  Edmund  Burke  to 
the  Assembly  of  New-York. — Letter  from  Mr.  Van  Schaack  to  John  Jay. — 
His  brother-in-law,  Henry  Cruger,  Jun.,  is  chosen  a  member  of  the  British 
Parliament. — His  friend,  John  Vardill,  embarks  at  New-York  for  England,  to 
take  orders. — He  writes  to  Mr.  Vardill,  deprecating  the  measures  of  the  British 
government — Mr.  VardilTs  answer. — Letters  from  Mr.  Cruger  on  American 
affairs. — Mr.  Cruger  promises  to  "let  off"  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  sentiments  in 
the  House  of  Commons. — His  maiden  speech,  espousing  the  American  cause. 
— Graphic  description  of  Mr.  Cruger's  speech  by  Mr.  Vardill,  in  a  letter  from 
London. — Correspondence  with  Col.  Maunsell  condemning  the  measures  of 
Ministers.— Further  letters  from  London  from  Mr.  Cruger  and  Mr.  Vardill. — 
Mr.  Van  Schaack  is  appointed  a  member  of  the  Non-Consumption  Commit- 
tee, .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  p.  16. 

CHAPTER    III. 

Mr.  Van  Schaack's  father-in-law  embarks  at  New- York  for  the  watering 
places  in  England. — Numerous  domestic  afflictions  of  Mr.  Van  Schaack.  - 
Loss  of  four  children  within  four  years. — Sudden  death  of  two  other  children. 
— His  reflections  on  this  occasion. — He  removes  his  family  to  Kinderhook. — 
Letters  from  New-York. — That  city  no  longer  a  desirab'e  place  of  residence. 
— American  troops  take  possession  of  the  city. — Mr.  Van  Schaack  comes  to  the 
determination  not  to  take  up  arms  against  the  Parent  State. — Commits  his 
sentiments  to  paper. — He  loses  the  sight  of  one  eye  entirely. — Is  chosen  by  the 
electors  of  Kinderhook  district  a  member  of  tho  Committee  of  Safety  and  Cor- 
respondence for  Albany  county. — Attends  the  next  meeting  of  the  Committee. 
— Committee  for  Kinderhook  district  prefer  a  complaint  for  outrages  commit- 
ted in  their  district. — Complaint  established,  but  disregarded  by  the  Albany 


viii  CONTENTS. 

Committee. — Committee  for  Kinderhook  district  decline  to  sign  a  pledge  to 
take  up  arms.— They  are  expelled  in  their  absence  and  without  a  hearing. — 
Mr.  Van  Schaack  is  disposed  to  pursue  all  peaceful  remedies  for  a  redress  of 
grievances. — He  ceases  to  act  with  the  Whigs  on  account  of  the  harshness  of 
their  measures.— Is  apprehensive  of  total  blindness.— Sudden  and  alarming 
illness  of  Mrs.  Van  Schaack  —His  sensibility  is  severely  tried  by  the  necessity 
of  separating  from  many  of  his  early  friends,  who  were  for  warlike  measures. 
— He  assumes  the  stand  of  neutrality  and  adheres  to  it,—  His  high  standing  and 
supposed  influence  render  him  an  object  of  suspicion,         .  .  p-  48. 

CHAPTER    IV. 

First  Constitution  of  New-York  adopted  April,  1777.— Previous  regulations 
by  a  Provincial  Congress  or  Convention  and  County  Committees. — These  but 
a  temporary  expedient,  and  intended  to  expire  on  a  reconciliation  with  Great 
Britain. — History  of  the.'^e  Committees. —PLxecutive,  judicial  and  legislative 
powers  confounded  and  exercised  by  one  body. — Provincial  Congress  appoint 
a  Committee  of  Conspiracies. — Arbitrary  powers  conferred  on  this  committee. 
— Desperate  character  of  the  American  cause  at  this  period. — Extraordinary 
powers  conferred  by  the  Continental  Congress  on  Gen.  Washington.  — Con- 
gress apologize  to  the  people  therefor. — Abuses  growing  out  of  the  arbitrary 
powers  conferred  on  the  Committees. — Character  of  the  Committees. — Anec- 
dote about  the  Albany  Committee,  illustrating  the  jealousy  of  liberty. — Com- 
mittee of  Conspiracies  pass  a  resolution  directing  the  Albany  Committee  to 
summon  Mr.  Van  Schaack  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance.— He  appears  before 
the  Albany  Committee  and  declines  to  take  the  oath. — Is  ordered  to  repair  to 
Boston. — He  applies  for  time  to  arrange  his  atfairs. — His  application  is  deni- 
ed.— Writes  to  the  Convention,  maintaining  it  to  be  his  right  to  remove  from 
the  State  with  his  family  and  effects.— Convention  pass  an  order  for  his  ap- 
pearance before  them. — 1  hey  omit  to  forward  him  a  copy. — He  proceeds  to 
Boston,  and  thence  to  Leominster. — His  correspondence  from  Massachusetts. 
— Mr.  Jay  sends  to  Mrs.  Van  Schaack  the  order  for  her  husband's  appearance. 
— ]Mr.  Van  Schaack  attends  the  Convention  at  Kingston. — They  pass  an  order 
suspending  a  hearing  upon  his  memorial. — He  repairs  on  his  parole  to  Kin- 
derhook.— Singular  course  of  the  Convention. — He  writes  an  essay  on  civil 
wars  and  political  toleration. — Terror  and  dismay  of  the  inhabitants  of  Alba- 
ny and  vicinity,  on  the  approach  of  British  armies. — Capture  of  Burgoyne 
gives  a  cheering  aspect  to  American  affairs. — Anecdote  respecting  Burgoyne 
and  the  Dutch  matron,  on  his  entrance  into  Albany  — Interesting  incident  re- 
specting Madame  de  Reidesdel,  while  at  Gen.  Schuyler's,  .  p.  64. 

CHAPTERV. 

Mrs.  Van  Schaack's  health  becomes  alarming. — She  is  exceedingly  anxious 
to  visit  the  city  of  her  nativity. — Is  advised  by  her  physicians  that  it  would 
have  a  favorable  effect  on  her  health. — New- York  then  a  British  garrison. — 
Mr.  Van  Schaack  applies  for  leave  to  visit  the  city  with  his  sick  wife. — Cor- 
respondence on  that  subject  with  Mr.  Jay,  the  Governor's  private  Secretary. — 
The  Governor  declines  giving  permission,  as  no  "reasons  of  state''  called  for 
it. — Familiar  correspondence  with  Mr.  Jay. — ]Mrs.  Van  Schaack's  health  as- 
sumes a  more  alarming  aspect. — Her  distracted  husband  again  urges  his  ap- 
plication, and  offers  to  submit  to  any  restrictions  that  may  be  imposed. — The 
absence  of  "reasons  of  state"  again  defeats  his  application. — Further  illus- 
tration of  the  hardships  of  civil  wars. — Application  is  made  for  leave  to  Dr. 
Hayes,  an  eminent  physician  attached  to  the  British  army  captured  at  Sara- 
toga, then  in  Albany,  to  visit  Mrs.  Van  Schaack. — The  Committee  of  Safety 
interfere  with  the  Commanding  General  to  prevent  the  excursion. — Mr.s.  Van 
Schaack,  on  her  deatli  bed,  forgives  the  public  authorities  for  not  allowing 
her  to  go  to  New-York. — She  forgives  the  Committee  for  refusing  leave  to 
her  physician  to  visit  her. — Her  death,         .  .  .  .  p.  95. 


CONTENTS.  IX 

CHAPTER   VI. 

Mr.  Van  Schaack's  health  demands  attention. — He  determines  to  go  to 
Europe  to  have  his  eye  operated  upon. — Writes  to  Mr.  Jay  on  the  subject  of 
obtaining  permission  from  the  Governor  to  go  to  Enghmd. — Mr.  Jay  dis- 
courages the  application. — Mr.  Van  Scliaack  lias  an  interview  with  the 
Governor,  who  promises  him  leave  to  go  to  Europe  as  soon  as  the  state  of 
the  country  would  admit. — A  new  event  occurs  to  swell  his  already  over- 
flowing cup  of  afflictions. — The  Legislature  of  New- York  pass  the  Banishing 
Act. — He  is  summoned  before  the  Board  of  Commissioners,  at  Albany. — De- 
clines saying  whether  he  considers  himself  a  subject  of  the  State  of  New- York 
or  of  Great  Britain. — An  order  is  made  for  his  banishment. — The  Secretary 
of  the  Board  was  his  former  law  stutlent. — Mr.  Vari  Schaack's  emotions  on 
seeing  his  pupil's  name  to  the  order. — He  analyzes  the  statute  by  which  he 
was  proscribed. — Correspondence  with  Theodore  Sedgwick. — Letter  from  Mr. 
Sedgwick  to  Aaron  Burr. — Mr.  Van  Schaack  proceeds  from  Kinderhook  to 
New-York. — Has  an  interview  with  Gov.  Clinton  at  Poughkeepsie. — The 
Governor  assures  him  he  was  not  an  object  of  the  penalties  of  the  act  by 
which  he  was  proscribed. — Governor  Clinton's  certificate. — Mr.  Van  Schaack 
forwards  the  Governor's  Certificate  to  the  Commissioners  at  Albany. — It  ar- 
rives too  late,  and  his  name  is  recorded  with  the  rest. — Writes  a  long  letter 
to  Mr.  Jay. — The  author's  summary  of  the  facts  connected  with  JVIr.  Van 
Schaack's  case,  .  .  ....  p.   100. 

CHAPTER   VII. 

Mr.  Van  Schaack's  numerous  and  severe  afflictions  reviewed. — His  choice 
of  a  motto, — tlis  reflections  on  leaving  his  native  village. — He  arrives  at  New- 
York. — Letter  from  Gouverneur  Morris. — Mr.  Van  Schaack  embarks  for  Eng- 
land.— He  describes  the  dangers  of  the  sea. — Touches  Ireland. — Compares 
the  situation  of  its  inhabitants  with  those  of  America. — Letter  from  Cork  to 
his  son. — He  proceeds  to  England. — Arrives  at  Bristol. — Affecting  intervievvr 
with  his  father-in-law. — Extracts  from  his  Diary  and  Journal  of  Travels  while 
in  England,     ........  p.   129. 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

Mr.  Van  Schaack's  occupations  while  in  London. — Rare  opporttinities  for 
acquiring  information. — Is  a  frequent  attendant  on  the  debates  in  Parliament. 
— Makes  notes  of  debates  on  American  affairs. — Gen.  Howe's  conduct  of  the 
American  war  becomes  the  subject  of  Parliamentary  debate. — His  misman- 
agement of  the  war. — Narrow  chance  for  American  Independence. — Severe 
strictures  of  political  writers  on  Gen.  Howe's  military  conduct  in  America. — 
Mr.  Van  Schaack  was  probably  one  of  those  writers. — His  notes  of  a  debate 
in  Parliament  in  regard  to  Gen.  Howe. — His  letter  to  Gen.  Howe,  exjiosing 
his  mismanagement  of  the  American  war,  ...  p.  164. 

CHAPTER    IX. 

Mr.  Van  Schaack's  anxiety  about  the  education  of  his  three  children  still  in 
America. — His  observations  on  that  subject,  written  in  New- York  and  at 
sea. — Letters  from  London  to  his  son,        ....  p.  185. 

CHAPTER    X. 

Letters  from  London  to  his  son  continued,         ...  p.  205. 

CHAPTER    XI. 

Extracts  from  his  Diary  and  Political  Speculations  while  in  England, 
1779  to  1781,       ........  p.  236. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    XII 


Mr.  Van  Scliaack's  peculiar  sentiments  in  regard  to  the  American  Revolu- 
tion.— Charity  formed  a  prominent  trait  in  his  character. — He  always  looked 
for  a  good  motive  in  canvassing  the  conduct  of  individuals. — Applies  this  prin- 
ciple to  rulers. — Gave  ministers  credit  for  integrity  of  purpose,  in  their  mea- 
sures against  the  Colonies. — On  his  arrival  in  England,  he  takes  pains  to  inform 
his  mind  as  to  the  designs  of  the  British  Ministry. — Becomes  satisfied  of  their 
corruption. — Changes  his  former  views  on  this  subject. — Reduces  his  senti- 
ments to  writing. — Resolves  to  return  to  America,  but  is  deterred  by  the  state 
of  his  eyes. — At  one  time  he  concluded  to  undergo  an  operation. — In  prospect 
of  a  fatal  result,  he  arranged  his  papers  and  drew  his  will. —  He  is  alarmed 
by  an  attack  on  his  other  eye. — Is  temporarily  relieved. — The  surrender  of 
Lord  Cornwallis,  the  signal  in  England  for  the  abandonment  of  the  American 
war. — Extracts  from  ]Mr.  Van  Scliaack's  Diary  and  Notes  of  Debates  in  Par- 
liament.— Ministers  are  outvoted. — They  resign. — New  Ministry  formed,  with 
the  Marquis  of  Rockingham  at  their  head. — Charles  James  Fox  is  introduc- 
ed into  the  new  Cabinet. — Sudden  death  of  the  Marquis  of  Rockingham. — 
A  schism  in  the  new  Ministry. — Mr.  Fox  resigns. — Letter  from  Mr.  Van 
Schaack,  exposing  the  inconsistencies  of  the  Ex-Minister,        .         .       p.  257. 

CHAPTER    XIII. 

Mr.  Van  Schaack's  fondness  for  youth. — Familiar  letters  to  a  young 
friend,      .........  p.  278. 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

The  American  Revolution  had  interrupted  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  intercourse 
with  many  of  his  early  friends. — The  dawn  of  peace  opens  the  way  for  their 
re-union. — Mr.  Jay  arrives  in  Paris. — Mr.  Van  S'diaack  renews  a  correspond- 
ence with  him. — Mr.  Jay  visits  England. — These  old  friends  meet. — Signifi- 
cant entry  in  Air.  Van  Schaack's  Diary,        .  •  .  .  p.  300. 

CHAPTER    XV. 

Corrfispoiidence  from  England,  with  his  relatives  in  America,      .       p.  314, 

CHAPTER    XVI. 

Correspondence  from  England,  wuth  his  relatives  in  America,  contin- 
ued, -  -  .  .  .  ...  p.  343. 

CHAPTER    XVII. 

Correspondence  from  England  with  eminent  gentlemen  in  America. — 
Letter  to  Theodore  Sedgwick. — From  Gouverneur  Morris. — To  Gouverneur 
Morris. — From  Gouverneur  Morris. — To  Oliver  Wendell.. — To  John  Jay. — 
From  John  Jay,  (including  a  letter  from  George  Clinton  to  Mr.  Jay.) — To 
Peter  Silvester,  .  .  .  .  ...    p.  309. 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 

Mr,  Van  Schaack  determines  to  leave  England. — His  heart  beats  high  in 
the  prospect  of  soon  meeting  his  friends  in  America.— Letters  to  his  son,  and 
to  Jane  Silvester,  his  sister.— He  embarks  at  Fcxlmouth. — Arrives  in  the  har- 
bor of  New  York. — Receives  intelligence  of  the  death  of  his  mother. — Mr. 
Jay  meets  him  on  board  the  ship,  and  conducts  him  to  the  Governor  and 
Cliief  Justice. — Mr.  Van  Schaack  proceeds  to  Kinderhook. — His  return  is 
"welcomed  by  men  of  all  parties.— His  society  is  sought  after.— He  becomes 
an  object  of  great  interest  through  life,  .  .  .  .         p.  385. 


CONTENTS.  XI 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

No  impediments  interposed  to  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  resuming  his  residence 
in  the  State  of  New- York. — A  conviction  under  the  Banishing  Act  depended 
on  a  return  to  the  State. — The  Treaty  of  Peace  contained  a  stipulation  aj^ainst 
future  prosecutions. — His  case  probably  came  within  the  6th  Article. — Public 
authorities  embarrassed  in  regard  to  the  law. — No  disposition  manifested  to 
molest  him. — Early  legislation  of  New-York  — Its  extreme  severity. — Mr.  Van 
Schaack's  views  in  regard  to  the  Banishing  Act. — The  Confiscation  Act  con- 
demned by  some  of  the  most  eminent  Whigs. — Mr.  Jay's  viewb  on  that  sub- 
ject.— Singular  provisions  of  that  statute  for  trying  deceased  persons. — Curi- 
ous provisions  of  the  "  Act  to  complete  the  quota  of  the  troops." — Severe 
provisions  of  the  "  Act  to  preserve  the  Freedom  and  Independence  of  this 
State." — It  disfranchises  all  who  had  not  been  friendly  to  the  Revolution. — 
Another  statute  prohibited  all  lawyers  from  practising  who  could  not  prove 
they  had  been  "  good  and  zealous  friends  to  the  American  Cause." — This 
statute  in  force  when  Mr.  Van  Schaack  returned  from  England. — Many  em- 
inent men  thereby  excluded  from  the  legal  profession. — An  effort,  in  1785,  to 
procure  its  repeal,  fails. — A  more  liberal  spirit  actuates  the  next  legislature. — 
The  law  against  Attornies  and  the  Disfranchising  Act  are  repealed. — A  spe- 
cial statute  is  passed  restoring  Mr.  Van  Schaack  to  Citizenship. — He  is  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  of  the  Supreme  Court  a  second  time. — Opens  a  law  office  in 
his  native  village,  .......         p.  393. 

CHAPTER    XX. 

Mr.  Van  Schaack  leads  a  life  of  great  activity  and  enjoyment,  during  the 
first  few  years  after  his  return  from  England. — He  is  received  into  all  compa- 
nies with  a  hearty  welcome  and  distinction. — Selections  from  his  correspon- 
dence at  this  period. — Interesting  picture  presented  in  the  friendships  of  the 
Revolutionary  period,  ......  p.  404. 

CHAPTER    XXI. 

Federal  Constitution  recommended  to  the  States  for  their  adoption. — Mr. 
Van  Schaack  takes  a  deep  interest  in  favor  of  that  instrument. — He  mounts 
the  Rostrum  and  harangues  his  fellow-citizens. — He  is  put  in  nomination  as 
a  delegate  to  the  State  Convention. — Letters  to  Henry  Walton  and  to  his 
son. — Mr.  Van  Schaack  revises  the  Conductor  Generalis. — Determines  to 
avoid  public  life,  from  a  conviction  that  he  could  be  more  useful  to  his  coun- 
try in  a  private  station. — Is  married  to  Elizabeth  Van  Alen. — Her  character. 
— Correspondence  with  Peter  Silvester,  Henry  Van  Schaack,  John  Jay.  and 
Theodore  Sedgwick. — Mr.  Jay  becomes  a  candidate  for  Governor  of  N.  Y. — 
Mr.  Van  Schaack  takes  a  deep  interest  in  the  election  of  his  friend. — Writes  a 
series  of  articles  condemnatory  of  the  conduct  of  the  State  Canvassers. — Let- 
ter to  Andrew  Carshore  giving  Mr.  Jay's  character. — Mr.  Van  Schaack's  char- 
acter as  a  lawyer. — Letters  from  eminent  men  to  the  author  on  that  subject. — 
His  veneration  for  the  law  illustrated  by  an  anecdote. — His  vision  becomes  so 
much  impaired  as  to  render  an  amanuensis  necessary. — Writes  to  Theodore 
Sedgwick  that  his  epistolary  pleasures  are  at  an  end. — Devotes  much  of  his 
time  to  instructing  young  gentlemen  in  the  science  of  law. — Nearly  one 
hundred  young  men  have  been  educated  by  hirr. — Compiles  an  Analysis  of 
the  Practice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  for  the  use  of  his  students. — Letter  from 
James  Kent. — Mr.  Van  Schaack's  students  ever  retained  a  high  regard  for 
their  Instructor — A  letter  from  one  of  them. — At  the  age  of  82  he  has  two 
law  students. — He  writes  to  a  former  student,  "  like  a  coachman  who  loves 
the  smack  of  his  whip,  I  have  still  some  professional  occupations,"  p.  425, 

CHAPTER    XXII. 

Mr.  Van  Schaack's  severe  domestic  afflictions  after  his  return  from  England. 
— Sudden  death  of  his  oldest  son.— Letters  to  his  absent  children  on  that  event. 


XU  CONTENTS. 

— Death  of  another  son  at  the  age  of  20,  and  when  about  to  take  a  collegiate 
degree. — Death  of  ^Irs,  Van  Schaack. — His  conduct  on  the  next  anniversary 
of  that  occasion. — His  tenderness  for  the  sensibilities  of  others. — He  and 
Judge  Benson  visit  Mr.  Jay. — Correspondence  with  Mr,  Jay. — Mr.  Van 
Schaack  prepares  some  toasts  for  the  anniversary  meeting  of  the  Alumni  of 
Columbia  College. — Receives  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws. — Incidents  illus- 
trating his  habits,  occupations  and  character. — Closing  correspondence  with 
Mr,  Jay. — Death  of  that  eminent  man, — Mr.  Van  Schaack  composes  an  epi- 
taph on  his  friend. — Letter  from  Egbert  Benson. — Mr.  Van  Schaack's  illness 
and  death. — His  character,  .  ....  p.  447. 

APPENDIX. 

A.  Edmund  Burke's  letter  respecting  the  hearing  at  the  Cockpit  upon 

the  petition  for  the  removal  of  Governor  Hutchinson,  .  p.  467. 

B.  Henry  Cruger's  speech  in  Parliament,  ....  p.  468, 

C.  Resolve  of  Continental  Congress  giving  extraordinary  powers   to 

Gen.  "Washington,  .  ....  p.  473. 

D.  Letter  from  the  Convention  of  N.  Y.  to  Chairman  of  Tryon  county 

Committee,         .......         p.  474. 

E.  Detail  of  proceedings  in  relation  to  the  district  of  Kinderhook,         p.  475. 

F.  Order  of  the  Convention  for  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  appearance,     .      p-  478, 

G.  Parole,  .  .....  .p.  479. 

H.     Minutes  by  Mr.  Van  Schaack,  in  relation  to  the  last  sickness  and 

death  of  Mrs.  Van  Schaack,       .....         p.  479. 

L      Banishing  Act,  .....  •  P-  485. 

J.     Debate  in  the  House  of  Lords  in  regard  to  the  execution  of  Colonel 

Haynes,  ....  .  .  p.  487. 

K.     Dialogue  between  the  ghosts  of  Lord  Chatham  and  Charles  Town- 

shend,      .  .  .  .  .  .  .  p.  488. 

L.     Sixth  Article  of  Treaty  of  1783,  ...  p.  490. 


ERRATA. 

Page  21,  line  12  from  top,  for  vanquished,  read  vanished, 
"    "    note,  for  continential,  read  continental. 
"  162,  line  27  from  top,  for  numbers,  read  number. 
"  3S4,  line  6  from  top,  for  major,  read  Mayor. 
"  424,  line  1,  for  177/,  read  17S7. 
"  427,  line  14  from  top,  fcrr  111th  Art.,  read  m  Art. 


THE    LIFE 


OF 


PETER   VAN   SCHAACK. 


CHAPTER   I. 

The  ancestors  of  Peter  Van  Schaack  came  from  Holland.  The 
period  and  the  particular  circumstances,  at  and  under  which  they 
left  their  father-land,  to  encounter  the  hardships  and  share  the 
fortunes  of  the  New  World,  are  unknown.  They  were  probably 
among  the  early  emigrants  to  this  country,  w^hen  New-York  was  a 
Dutch  colony.  The  family  name — so  uncouth  and  difficult  of  pro- 
nunciation from  the  reading — would  seem  to  furnish  some  evidence 
of  the  genuineness  of  their  Dutch  origin.  There  is  reason  for  believ- 
ing that  it  was  originally  spelled  Schaeck,  though  pronounced  like 
the  present  name.  The  name  of  Van  Schaick  is  doubtless  a  corrup- 
tion, and  perhaps  improvement,  of  the  same  original.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  designated  by  the  attendants  at  his  lodgings, 
when  in  London,  as  "  The  gentleman  with  a  hard  name.''''* 

Cornelius  Van  Schaack,  the  father  of  our  subject,  was  by  pro- 
fession a  merchant,  being  engaged  in  business  at  Kinderhook, 
in  the  State  of  New- York,  where  he  resided.  He  was  also  for 
many  years  a  skipper  on  the  Hudson  river,  antecedent  to  the 
Revolution. 

The  parents  of  Peter  Van  Schaack  w^ere  uneducated  ;  and  they 
only  enjoyed,  in  early  life,  such  limited  opportunities  for  improving 

*  The  variety  of  ways  in  which  this  name  is  pronounced  would  be  obvi- 
ated, if  the  rule  of  giving  to  the  double  a  the  hroad  sound  was  observed. 

1 


X  THE     L  IFE     OF 

the  mind,  as  were  afforded  by  a  country  residence  in  the  colony  of 
New- York,  during  the  early  part  of  the  last  century.  His  father, 
however,  was  a  man  of  great  sagacity  and  strength  of  mind,  and 
of  marked  energy  and  decision  of  character,  whose  personal  appear- 
ance is  represented  to  have  been  very  dignified  and  command- 
ing, and  such  as  to  inspire  those  in  his  presence  with  awe, 
and  to  have  secured  their  respect  and  attention.  His  mother  was 
a  woman  of  good  sense,  simple  and  unostentatious  in  her  manners, 
of  marked  piety,  and  of  great  sensibility  of  feehng  ;  which  latter 
quality  was  transmitted  to  her  children. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  at  Kinderhook,  in  March, 
1747,  and  was  the  youngest  of  seven  children.  Henry,  the  oldest^ 
who  died  in  1823,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  years  and  up- 
wards, was  an  extraordinary  man,  and  exhibited  in  his  life  and 
actions,  how  early  disadvantages  may  be  overcome  by  attention 
and  perseverance.  Although  he  had  not  even  studied  the  rudiments 
of  English  grammar,  his  letters  and  other  productions  are  remark- 
able, not  only  for  profundity  of  thought,  but  for  their  grammatical 
correctness,  and  frequently  for  classic  beauty.  His  knowledge  of 
grammar  was  acquired  solely  by  the  ear,  and  by  paying  strict  atten- 
tion to  the  conversation  of  gentlemen  of  education,  into  whose  com- 
pany accident  or  business  might  cast  him.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
enterprise  and  fearlessness  of  character  ;  and  was  engaged,  at  an 
early  period,  in  the  fur  trade,  being  interested  in  establishments  for 
that  purpose,  at  Niagara  and  Detroit,  at  which  latter  place  he  re- 
sided for  several  years  previous  to  the  Indian  wars  of  1761. 

Henry  Van  Schaack  was  an  officer  in  the  last  French  war.  In 
a  conversation,  in  1816,  with  an  eminent  civilian  still  upon  the  stage> 
he  communicated  the  following  particulars  in  regard  to  the  three 
sanguinary  conflicts  which  took  place  on  one  and  the  same  day,  at 
Fort  George  and  French  Mountain.  He  "  was  a  lieutenant  in 
a  company  of  which  the  late  General  Schuyler  was  captain,  in  the 
New-York  levies,  at  Fort  George  and  Fort  Edward,  in 
August,  1755 ;  when  Baron  Dieskau  was  defeated  by  General, 
afterwards  the  humane  and  generous  Sir  William  Johnson, 
of  Montgomery  county.  His  description  of  the  battle  was 
essentially  the  same  as  it  is  detailed  by  Smollett,  who  has  re- 
lated it  very  correctly.     He  was  in  Fort  Edward,  when  Baron 


PETERVANSCHAACK.  3 

Dieskau  defeated  Colonel  Williamsh  party,  and  attacked  the  lines  at 
Fort  George,  and  was  one  of  the  detachment  which  went  up  the  same 
day,  and  defeated  the  retreating  army  of  Baron  Dieskau,  whom 
he  found  pillaging  the  dead  that  lay  in  the  road  and  woods,  two  or 
three  miles  south  of  Lake  George.  There  were  about  three  hundred 
of  Colonel  Williams's  party  lying  dead.  On  going  into  the  camp 
at  Lake  George,  to  the  quarters  of  General  Johnson,  he  found 
him  wounded,  and  related  to  him  the  ultimate  rout  of  the  French  ; 
and  in  his  same  tent,  and  on  his  bed,  lay  the  Baron  Dieskau,  also 
grievously  w^ounded. 

"  He  reached  General  Johnson's  tent  in  the  night,  after  the 
three  skirmishes  and  battles  of  the  day,  viz.:  (L)  Dieskau's  defeat 
of  Col.  Williams's  party.  (2.)  His  unsuccessful  storm  of  General 
Johnson's  lines,  perhaps  in  the  middle  of  the  day.  (3.)  The  dis- 
persion of  his  retreating  and  defeated  troops,  by  Captain  Maginnis 
and  Lieutenant  Van  Schaack,  in  the  afternoon,  or  rather  evening, 
for  the  last  fight  w^as  after  nightfall."* 

Honorable  mention  is  made,  in  the  contemporaneous  accounts 
of  these  events,  of  Lieutenant  Van  Schaack's  bravery  and  military 
conduct  on  the  latter  occasion.  This  tribute,  slight  though  it 
be,  is  due  to  his  memory. 

Not  to  particularize  other  members  of  the  family,  (which  would 
be  beyond  the  scope  of  this  work,)  it  will  be  sufficient  to  say,  that 
the  family  of  Cornelius  Van  Schaack  w^as  one  of  respectability  and 
influence,  and  it  was  remarkable  for  the  good  sense,  natural  intel- 
lectual endowments  and  integrity  of  principle,  and  for  the  energy, 
enterprise  and  stability  of  character  of  nearly  all  its  members.  The 
opportunities  for  acquiring  a  good  education,  which  were  afforded 
by  a  country  residence  at  that  early  period,  were  extremely  limited, 
and  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  first  young  man  who  receiv- 
ed a  liberal  or  collegiate  education  from  his  native  tow^n. 

But  few^  particulars  have  survived  the  wreck  of  time,  in  regard 
to  the  early  history  and  youthful  course  of  Peter  Van  Schaack.  He 
appears  to  have  manifested  an  inclination,  at  one  period,  to  enter 

*  The  author  is  indebted,  for  this  extract,  to  the  Honorable  James  Kent, 
by  whom  the  statements  of  Mr.  Van  Schaack  were  committed  to  paper  at  the 
time  of  the  conversation,  and  placed  at  the  end  of  the  third  volume  of  Smol- 
lett's History  of  England. 


4  THE     LIFE     OF 

the  army ;  but  his  father  had,  at  an  early  day,  designed  him  for 
one  of  the  liberal  professions.  He  was  placed  at  school  in  his 
native  village,  where  the  ordinary  branches  of  a  common  English 
education  were  taught.  His  young  ambition  was  much  repressed 
by  the  unhappy  temper  and  injudicious  conduct  of  his  teacher. 
This  incident  in  the  early  part  of  his  life,  is  thus  adverted  to  in  one 
of  his  letters  to  his  son  : 

"  My  tutor,  by  a  warmth  of  temper  and  an  unreasonable  impa- 
tience when  I  hesitated,  which  frequently  happened  from  the  influ- 
ence of  a  native  diffidence,  would  throw  me  into  confusion,  so  that 
I  really  lost  the  use  of  my  recollection,  and  my  presence  of  mind, 
and  instead  of  giving  me  time  to  recover  myself,  he  would  insist  on 
my  answering  questions  sometimes  of  an  intricate  nature.  I  be- 
came possessed  of  an  idea  that  my  talents  were  defective,  and  that 
I  was  not  designed  by  nature  to  pursue  the  paths  of  science.  I 
therefore  urged  your  honored  grandfather,  who  entertained  all  the 
partiality  of  parental  fondness  for  me,  to  permit  me  to  leave  my 
books,  and  to  indulge  me  in  my  wishes  of  going  into  the  army. 
To  this  he  was  utterly  averse,  and,  from  respect  to  him,  as  well  as 
from  a  discovery  I  made,  that  though  my  tutor  behaved  to  me  as  if 
I  was  a  blockhead,  yet,  in  my  absence  he  expressed  himself  favora- 
bly of  me,  I  persevered,  and  soon  found  myself  advanced  in  my 
learning  far  beyond  my  own  most  flattering  expectations." 

For  about  two  years  antecedent  to  his  entering  upon  his  colle- 
giate course,  he  was  placed  under  the  care  and  instruction  of 
the  Rev.  Richard  Charlton,  on  Staten  Island.  This  gentleman 
was  a  clergyman  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  and  for  many 
years  had  been  an  assistant  minister  in  Trinity  Church,  in  the  city 
of  New-York,  and  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Vesey,  the  rector,  he  was 
assigned  to  the  missionary  station  on  Staten  Island.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  Trinity  College,  Dublin,  and  is  represented  to  have 
been  an  admirable  scholar.  It  was  under  his  rigid  instruction,  that 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  laid  the  foundation  for  that  thorough  ac- 
quaintance with  the  Latin  language,  which  rendered  him,  in  subse- 
quent life,  probably  one  of  the  best  Latin  scholars  in  the  state.  He 
was  accustomed  to  speak  with  the  highest  veneration  of  his  "  old 
master, ^^  and  he  ever  reverted  to  his  valuable  instructions  with  feel- 
ings of  gratitude. 


PETER     VANSCHAACK.  5 

In  1762,  (being  then  in  his  sixteenth  year,)  he  entered  the 
Freshman  class  in  King's  College,  in  the  city  of  New-York.  This 
was  an  eventful  era  in  his  life.  It  was  here  that  he  formed  an 
interesting  and  valuable  acquaintance  with  John  Jay,  Egbert  Ben- 
son, Richard  Harrison,  Gouverneur  Morris,  Robert  R.  Livingston, 
and  many  other  illustrious  men,  whose  enviable  reputations  now 
constitute  the  richest  property  of  their  country.  Between  the  four 
first  named  individuals  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  the  greatest 
intimacy  existed,  and  an  uninterrupted  friendship  continued  through 
life ;  and  the  biographer  or  historian  who  should  assay  to  do  jus- 
tice to  the  memory  of  either,  could  not  fail  to  spread  upon  his  pages 
the  names  of  all  these  choice  spirits  in  juxtaposition. 

In  the  autumn  of  1765,  (while  still  at  college,  and  being  then 
in  his  twentieth  year,)  he  was  privately  marrifd  to  "F.liyayth 
Crufyer^daug;hter  of  HmiqLX^ruger,  an  intelligent  and  opulent 
merchant  inJhe_city__of_New-York.     This  apparently  precipitate 

step  occasioned  the  mnykfd  rUspjfa^nrp  nf  thp  ynnncr  lady's  fi^thpr. 

A  reconciliation,  however,  shortly  afterwards  took  place,  and  Mr.  ) 
Van  Schaack  lived  to  enjoy,  in  an  eminent  degree,  the  confidence  ( 
of  that  gentleman,  and  was  appointed  by  him  one  of  his  executors. 

While  at  college,  he  received  several  premiums  for  scholarship, 
and  ranked  first  in  his  class.  Having  finished  a  regular  collegiate 
course,  he  commenced  the  study  of  the  law,  in  the  spring  of  176o, 
in  the  office  of  Peter  Silvester,  at  Albany.  With  this  gentleman 
he  remained  about  eighteen  months,  when  he  w^ent  to  the  city  of 
New-York,  and  entered  the  office  of  William  Smith,  the  historian, 
and  one  of  the  most  distinguished  jurists  of  that  day. 

The  duties  which  devolved  upon  him  in  the  office  of  Mr.  Smith, 
whose  business  was  very  extensive,  w^ould  seem  to  have  been  very 
laborious,  and  to  have  required  a  great  share  of  industry  and  appli- 
cation. The  office  duties  of  clerks  at  that  period  w-ere  immensely 
laborious — every  thing  was  written,  and  the  drudgery  of  copying 
was  oppressive.  Printed  blank  forms,  which  are  now  used 
by  the  profession  with  so  much  economy  of  time  and  labor,  were 
then  unknown.  Even  the  argument  of  questions  of  law  before  the 
Supreme  Court  w^as  conducted  in  writing.  The  practice  of  having 
the  "  points"  only  in  writing,  and  the  substitution  of  oral  for  writ- 
ten arguments  at  the  bar  of  the  Supreme  Court,  was  adopted  some 


6  THELIFEOF 

years  after  the  Revolution,  at  the  suggestion  of  Alexander  Hamil- 
ton, whose  immense  business  did  not  leave  him  time  to  reduce  his 
arguments  to  writing ;  while  his  intuitive  mind  no  doubt  despised 
the  drudgery. 

It  was  about  this  period  that  the  Commentaries  of  Sir  William 
Blackstone  first  appeared  in  this  country,  and  presented  to  the 
young  law  student  the  advantage  of  a  systematic  work  on  legal 
science,  which  he  had  not  before  enjoyed. 

At  the  January  term  of  the  Supreme  Court,  in  1769,  Mr. 
Van  Schaack  underwent  the  usual  examination  in  company  witl 
his  particular  friends  Egbert  Benson  and  Richard  Harrison,  andj 
was  licensed  to  practice  as  an  attorney  of  that  court.  It  was  consi- 
dered a  very  remarkable  circumstance  at  the  time,  that  three  young 
gentlemen  should  be  admitted  to  the  bar  at  one  term.* 

Shortly  after  his  admission,  he  opened  an  office  in  Cedar-street, 
in  the  city  of  New-York ;  and  he  soon  found  a  rapidly  increasing 
business  intrusted  to  his  charge.  Respected  for  his  talents,  and 
with  a  reputation  unsullied, — bringing  to  the  profession  habits  of 
industry  and  a  disciplined  mind,  and  having  also  an  extensive  fam- 
ily connection,  who  manifested  every  disposition  to  promote  his 
advancement, — he  entered  upon  his  professional  career  under  the 
most  flattering  circumstances.  His  early  matrimonial  connection, 
and  the  responsibility  of  an  increasing  family,  were  a  great  stimu- 
lus to  his  ambition  and  industry,  and  had  increased  his  anxiety  to 
be  admitted  to  the  practice  of  his  profession ;  and  he  was  in  fact 
licensed  after  a  shorter  period  of  study  than  was  required  by  the 
strict  rules  of  the  court. 

The  letters  which  follow  are  deemed  worthy  of  preservation 
for  their  historical  interest. 

TO  PETER  SILVESTER.f 

JVew-York,  \st  Jan.,  1769. 
Dear  Sir  : 

Our  town  is  just  now  rather  barren  of  events  to  fill  a  letter 

with ;  however,  I  shall  endeavor  to  repair  my  past  deficiency  as  a 

*  From  thirty-five  to  fifty  are  now  usually  licensed  at  each  of  the  four 
terms. 

t  This  gentleman  married  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  sister,  and  at  this  time  he 
was  in  the  practice  of  the  law  at  Albany.     He  was  a  member  of  the  first 


PETERVANSCHAACK.  7 

correspondent,  by  gleaning  together  something  or  another  as  chance 
shall  turn  it  up. 

The  subject  of  a  dissolution  of  the  House  is  most  talked  of. 
Two  things,  it  is  said,  will  produce  this,  if  they  are  done  :  The  first, 
reading  the  Boston  Circular  Letter.  In  this  case,  the  Governor,  'tis 
said,  has  a  positive  instruction  immediately  to  dissolve  them.  The 
second,  the  entering  into  constitutional  resolves  of  the  independency 
of  the  colonies  on  Great  Britain  as  to  taxation.  In  this  case,  the  Gov- 
ernor thinks  himself  bound  ex-officio  to  dissolve  them.  He  reasons  in 
this  way :  there  is  now  actually  existing  an  act  of  Parliament, 
(made  at  the  time  of  the  repeal  of  the  stamp  act,)  declaring  the 
supremacy  of  Great  Britain  over  the  colonies  in  this  very  right  of 
taxation.  By  this  law  the  crown  itself  is  bound  in  its  powers,  and 
consequently  to  that  law  he  as  a  servant  of  the  crown  must  render 
obedience.  Now,  he  says,  every  declaration  of  our  Assembly,  de- 
rogatory from  that  power  and  that  right,  he  must  take  notice  of, 
and  discountenance. 

This  kind  of  reasoning,  however  just  and  solid,  his  Excel- 
lency's situation  considered,  does  not  produce  conviction  in  the 
minds  of  people  here.  Addresses  have  been  presented,  or  rather 
instructions,  from  the  citizens  in  this  town,  enjoining  both  these 
measures,  and  it  is  supposed  that  they  wdll  be  complied  w^ith. 

The  controversy  seems  now  to  stand  on  a  point  of  punctilio. 
The  Governor  says  that  he  has  strong  authority  to  think  that  the 
ministry  are  very  pacifically  inclined  towards  the  colonies,  and  are 
anxious  that  the  latter  should  not  enter  into  any  violent  (so  they 
call  what  we  terra  spirited)  measures,  for  this  reason,  that  they, 
the  ministry,  may  have  the  credit  of  carrying  their  good  intentions 
into  action  without  seeming  to  be  forced  into  it.  The  people,  on 
the  other  hand,  have  not  much  confidence  in  the  sincerity  of  minis- 
terial promises  or  declarations,  and,  should  they  not  publicly  de- 
clare their  sentiments,  they  consider  that  they  will  be  viewed  in 

Provincial  Congress,  and,  upon  the  organization  of  the  county  of  Columbia, 
in  1786,  he  was  appointed  a  judge  of  the  county  courts.  In  1769,  he  was 
chosen  a  representative  in  Congress  for  that  county.  He  was  also  after- 
wards elected  to  seats  in  both  branches  of  the  state  legislature.  Judge  Sil- 
vester was  a  gentleman  of  respectable  talents,  of  unbending  integrity,  and  of 
great  moral  worth. 


8  THELIFEOF 

an  inferior  light  to  those  of  their  sister  colonies  ^vho  have  adopted 
more  spirited  conduct,  and  also  of  giving  up  the  general  cause  of 
liberty. 

Nay,  it  would  seem  as  if  this  Assembly  had  abandoned  those 
sentiments  which  the  last  preceding  House  has  so  pubhcly  declared, 
and  left  as  a  lasting  testimonial  on  the  minutes  of  their  proceedings. 
From  hence  you  will  gather  that  a  dissolution  seems  almost  in- 
evitable, and  yet  some  discretionary  powers  may  be  lodged  with 
the  Governor  that  may  bring  about  a  compromise. 

You  may  have  heard  of  or  seen  on  the  minutes  of  the  House, 
that  a  bill  has  been  before  the  House  to  curtail — to  annihilate  as  it 
were — the  proceedings  in  the  Supreme  Court ;  in  confining  its  ju- 
risdiction to  causes  only  above  a  hundred  pounds.  I  am  told  it  is 
miscarried.  I  look  upon  this  bill  as  an  effect  of  an  almost  universal 
clamor  against  the  law  and  its  practisers.  You  cannot  conceive 
the  violence  of  people's  prejudices ;  whether  they  are  groundless, 
or,  as  the  lawyers  say,  unjustly  levelled  against  the  whole  profession 
for  the  chicanery  of  a  few  individuals,  or  whether  they  are  really 
chargeable  to  the  body  of  the  law  in  general,  the  respectable 
gentlemen  on  each  side  of  the  question  hinder  me  from  determin- 
ing entirely. 

However  this  may  be,  the  end  aimed  at  is  the  total  destruc- 
tion of  the  profession — a  profession,  however,  without  w^hich  socie- 
ty would  not  easily  subsist.  I  am  afraid  the  consequence  of  this 
prejudice  will  be,  that  the  practice  will  be  thrown  into  the  hands  of 
a  lower  class  of  people ;  for  if  the  fees  are  very  low  it  will  be  un- 
worthy the  attention  of  a  gentleman.  This  may  make  the  business 
of  an  attorney  and  that  of  a  counsellor  two  distinct  branches,  and  I 
fancy  not  very  well  answer  the  purpose  of  lessening  the  law 
charges. 

Party  spirit  runs  high,  (as  Coke  says  of  ambition,)  it  rideth 
without  reins.  Should  this  Assembly  be  dissolved  and  a  new  elec- 
tion succeed,  depend  upon  it,  it  will  give  birth  to  such  bitterness 
and  rancor  as  perhaps  has  not  hitherto  showed  itself. 

Upon  the  whole,  you  will  think  my  anxiety  to  get  into  a  state 
of  independence  justifiable.  As  you  intend  your  letter  for  my 
benefit,  and  the  restriction  in  it  arose  from  a  sense  of  duty,  as  I  sup- 
pose, or  at  least  of  equity,  you  will  easily  excuse  my  suppressing 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  9 

this  letter,  as  I  shall  make  known  the  contents  to  Mr.  Smith  as  if 
conveyed  in  a  letter  to  myself. 
I  am,  Dear  Sir, 

Your  afTectionate  friend  and  brother, 

P.  V.  ScHAACK. 

TO  HENRY  VAN  SCHAACK. 

JYew-York,  Jan'y  2d,  1769. 
My  dear  Brother  : 

I  received  your  favor  by  the  post.  I  shall  pay  due  attention 
to  the  contents. 

This  day  our  Assembly  will  be  dissolved.  I  believe  it  is  in- 
evitable :  the  Resolves  I  hear  were  made  last  Saturday  evening. 

As  to  your  brother-in-law,  believe  me,  my  dear  Harry,  I  will 
give  him  my  instruction  with  the  greatest  pleasure.  I  wish  his 
genius  may  be  adapted  to  the  law.  Mention  to  Mr.  Blackbourn 
to  have  his  turn  of  mind  consulted.  Does  he  write  to  you  ?  Get 
him  to  tell  you  the  favorite  parts  of  his  studies.  Beg  that  he  may 
read  history,  that  grand  fountain  of  instruction.  I  do  not  recollect 
his  age,  and  therefore  cannot  guess  at  the  stage  he  is  advanced  to  in 
his  learning  ;  but  if  he  is  designed  for  the  law,  I  w^ould  recommend 
to  him  as  soon  as  he  is  fit  to  read  them,  Cicero  de  officiis,  and  Puf- 
fendorf  de  jure  hominis  et  civis.  These  are  books  that  treat  of 
the  moral  and  civil  duties,  and  are  an  excellent  foundation  to  begin 
the  study  of  law  upon. 

I  think  I  could  chalk  out  a  path  for  a  prompt  lad  that  would 
furnish  him  with  great  instruction,  and  show  a  pretty  direct  road  to 
an  acquaintance  with  the  laws  of  England.  Believe  me,  I  know 
not  above  one  or  two  in  town  that  do  tolerable  justice  to  their 
clerks.  For  my  part,  how  many  hours  have  I  hunted,  how  many 
books  turned  up  for  what  three  minutes  of  explanation  from  any 
tolerable  lawyer  would  have  made  evident  to  me  !  It  is  in  vain  to 
put  a  law  book  into  the  hands  of  a  lad  without  explaining  difficul- 
ties to  him  as  he  goes  along.  I  could  better  convey  and  illustrate 
my  ideas  on  this  subject  to  one  of  the  profession  than  to  you,  who 
must  be  unacquainted  even  with  the  necessary  terms  to  clothe 
them  in. 

From  David  and  Lydia's  letters,  I  am  afraid  my  mother  is 

2 


10  THEI.  IFEOF 

very  ill.  I  am  anxious  to  hear  more  on  this  subject,  and  be^  you 
will  immediately  gratify  me.  Should  this  honored  parent  still  con- 
tinue ill,  let  me  know  of  it,  and  I  will  make  a  jaunt  up.  I  am, 
w^ith  love  to  Jane,  and  the  compliments  of  the  season,  dear  H., 

Your  very  affectionate  brother, 

P.    V.    SCHAACK. 

Tuesday  morning.  The  Assembly  is  actually  dissolved.  It 
is  said  the  Governor  has  told  your  members  there  will  be  a  new 
election  immediately.     Pray  how  is  your  county  affected  1 

Mr.  Smith  tells  me  that  very  bad  accounts  are  arrived  from 
England.  The  King  has  expressed  himself  to  his  Parliament  in  a 
violent,  flaming  manner  against  the  colonies. 

TO  HENRY  VAN  SCHAACK. 

J\^eiv-York,  Friday,  27  Jan'^y,  1769. 

Our  election  is  ended,  and  the  Church  triumphant.  Messrs. 
Cruger,  Delancey,  Walton  and  Jauncey*  are  the  members,  in  spite  of 
all  the  efforts  of  the  Presbyterian  interest  combined  with  some  other 
dissenting  sects.  This  is  what  the  Churchmen  call  a  complete  vic- 
tory ; — 'tis  a  lasting  monument  of  the  power  of  the  mercantile 
interest.  It  is  impossible  there  ever  could  be  a  more  decently  con- 
ducted election,  but  it  will  add  fuel  to  a  flameof  party  spirit  which 
I  believe  will  never  be  extinguished.  It  is  said  that  matters  go  so 
high  as  to  single  out  tradesmen  of  each  respective  party — this, 
though,  is  chiefly  charged  upon  the  minority ,  but  will  for  the  fu- 
ture, I  fancy,  be  more  general. 

How  do  you  like  the  event  of  this  election  ?  It  is,  I  own, 
very  agreeable  to  me,  and  yet  it  throws  rather  too  much  weight 
into  a  scale  which  I  wish,  indeed,  rather  than  any  other,  to  prepon- 
derate ;  but  in  general  my  sentiments  are  in  favor  of  a  balance  of 
power.  In  a  constitution  like  that  of  Great  Britain,  there  ever 
will  be  (I  wish  never  to  see  the  day  when  there  shall  not  be) 
parties.  The  bulk  of  the  people  will  be  divided,  and  espouse  one 
or  other  side.  From  the  very  temper  of  man,  when  he  gets  power 
he  will  be  tempted  to  abuse  it,  especially  when  he  is  irritated  by 
the  reflection  of  past  opposition. 

♦  John  Cruger,  James  Delancoy,  Jacob  Walton  and  James  Jauncey. 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  11 

The  unsuccessful  party,  on  the  contrary,  are  httle  disposed  to 
submit  to  any  exercise  of  superiority,  even  though  intended  for 
their  benefit,  from  a  set  of  people  they  hate ;  but  while  each  party 
continues  formidable  to  the  other,  and  upon  an  equal  footing,  nei- 
ther will  dare  to  attempt,  because  neither  can^  oppress.  The  ap- 
prehensions expressed  by  the  Presbyterians  are,  I  believe,  in  truth, 
chimerical ;  but  with  respect  to  themselves  they  are  real,  because 
they  think  them  so.  They  think  they  have,  as  a  religious  body, 
every  evil  to  expect  from  the  growing  power  of  the  Church ;  they 
are,  therefore,  I  think,  justifiable  in  opposing  it,  and  by  that  means 
prevent  the  dreaded  evil.  The  Church,  say  they,  is  secured  in 
every  branch  of  the  legislature,  and  has  no  mischief  to  dread  from 
their  having  some  leading  members  in  the  House  of  Assembly ;  and 
why  should  this  only  door  at  which  they  can  possibly  enter,  and  by 
which  they  can  acquire  any  degree  of  significance, — the  other 
branches  of  power  being  at  the  disposal  of  the  Crown,  and  out  of 
the  reach  of  those  who  are  disagreeable  to  mitred  heads, — why, 
say  they,  should  this  be  shut  against  them  ?  'Tis  pity  that  the 
zeal  of  these  gentlemen  has  hurried  them  into  acts  which  have 
already  proved  of  vast  disservice  to  them. 

I  inclose  you  some  papers  that  have  appeared  on  the  occasion 
of  the  election.  Numberless  others  were  handed  about,  but  of 
little  merit.  It  is  surprising  what  trifles  can  be  turned  to  the 
greatest  advantage  in  elections,  and  be  made  to  captivate  the  pas- 
sions of  the  vulgar,  or,  as  Hamlet  says,  "  to  split  the  ears  of  the 
groundlings."  A  straw,  a  firebrand,  have  severally  answered  this 
purpose  in  a  recent  instance.  It  was  said,  during  the  last  election, 
that  T.  Smith  had  said  that  the  Irish  were  poor  beggars,  and  had 
come  over  here  upon  a  bunch  of  straw.  The  whole  body  of  Irish- 
men immediately  joined  and  appeared  with  straws  in  their  hats. 

Mr.  Kissam,  who  summed  up  the  evidence  for  Mr.  Scott  in  the 
late  charge  against  Mr.  Jauncey,  happened  to  say  that  the  passions 
of  the  Germans  were  hke  firebrands; — a  whole  congregation  were, 
in  consequence  of  that,  resolved  to  vote  wdih  them  in  their  hands ; 
but  being  dissuaded,  they  however  distinguished  themselves  by  the 
name  of  the  Firebrands. 

These  gentlemen  have  also  made  themselves  remarkable  by  a 
song  in  the  German  language,  the  chorus  of  which  is : 


12  THELIFEOF 

"  Measter  Cruger,  Delancey, 
Measter  Walton  and  Jauncey." 

'Twas  droll  to  see  some  of  the  first  gentlemen  in  town  joining  in 
singing  this  song,  while  they  conducted  the  members  to  the  coffee- 
house ;  on  which  occasion  it  was  observed,  that  there  was  a  greater 
concourse  of  people  than  was  ever  seen  on  any  former  occasion  in 
town. 

Adieu.  I  believe  Betsey  will  write  a  few  lines  to  J.,  and  thank 
her,  so  that  I  need  say  nothing  on  this  head.  We  have  as  many 
correspondents  and  as  many  letters  to  w^ite  as  a  Secretary  of  State. 

I  am,  very  truly, 

Your  affectionate  brother, 

P.    V.    SCHAACK. 

It  will  be  observed,  that  at  the  dates  of  the  three  preceding  let- 
ters, Mr.  Van  Schaack  was  in  his  twenty-second  year,  and  had  not 
quite  completed  his  clerkship.  They  evince  an  early  maturity  of 
judgment,  and  more  particularly  a  great  share  of  candor,  which,  as 
will  hereafter  be  seen,  formed  a  leading  trait  in  his  character. 

FROM  EGBERT  BENSON. 

JYew-York,  June  21st,  1770. 

Though,  friend  Peter,  letter-writing  is  not  to  me  the  most 
agreeable  employment,  yet  I  should  think  myself  inexcusable  if  I 
did  not,  during  your  absence,  send  you  at  least  a  line,  especially  as 
I  do  not  recollect  that  you  have  another  correspondent  here.  As 
you  breathe  the  country  air,  I  suppose  you  have  catched  the  coun- 
try fondness  for  news ;  however,  there  is  scarce  any  thing  that 
transpires  worth  communicating. 

You  have  doubtless  heard,  ere  this,  that  the  matter  of  the  non- 
importation agreement  has  been  agitated  here,  and  that  the  num- 
ber of  subscribers  against  it  greatly  exceeded  that  in  favor  of  it. 
Whether  the  non-importation  agreement  should  still  continue,  is  a 
question  as  doubtful  and  perplexed  as  it  is  important,  and  with 
respect  to  myself,  I  must  candidly  own  non  liquet. 

A  sufferer  by  the  non-importation  agreement  struck  out  to  me 
what  I  believe,  upon  reflection,  will  appear  a  very  just  distinction, 
namely,  that  it  is  for  the  interest  of  the  city  in  particular,  but  not 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  13 

of  the  country  in  general,  that  we  should  import ;  and  it  is  upon 
this  principle,  making  proper  allowances  for  party  spirit,  that  I 
account  for  a  majority  of  subscriptions  in  the  city. 

A  suspension  of  commerce  was  first  hinted  in  New-York  as  the 
only  probable  and  adequate  remedy  for  our  grievances,  and  it  was 
with  us  that  the  non-importation  agreement  first  took  place,  and  of 
consequence  it  greatly  concerned  our  honor  that  we  should  be  the 
first  for  opening  an  importation.  I  mention  this  merely  as  argu- 
ment operating  solely  against  us.  The  Philadelphians,  I  hear, 
(mere  hearsay,)  refuse  to  accede  to  our  proposals,  and  are  much 
displeased  at  our  conduct.     There  is  no  account  yet  from  Boston. 

I  hope  you  found  your  family  and  friends  in  health,  and  that 
they  remain  so,  especially  Mrs.  Van  Schaack  and  the  children. 
You  will  be  pleased  to  present  my  compliments  to  her,  and  to  your 
brother  David  and  his  lady.  Be  further  pleased  to  mention  me 
with  the  most  profound  respect  to  his  honor  Mr.  Justice  Van 
Schaack.  I  hope  his  honor  is  well,  and  most  fervently  pray  that  he 
may  be  long  preserved  from  the  dreadful  evil  of  Circurario. 

You  probably  will  see  my  brother  Robert  somewhere  in  your 
country.     What  I   have  to  add  is  mere  surplusage,  and  such  (to 
speak  lawyer-wise)  as  I  am  confident  non  vitiat  chartam — namely 
that  I  am  your  sincere  friend  and  very  humble  servant, 

Egbert  Benson. 

In  November,  1770,  the  lawyers  in  the  city  of  New -York  form- 
ed an  association  called  "  TheMoot,^^  at  which  disputed  points  of 
law  were  formally  debated,  for  their  mutual  improvement.  In  these 
discussions,  which  were  conducted  with  great  regularity  and  order, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  took  a  conspicuous  part,  and  to  him  was 
intrusted  the  keeping  of  their  records.  Some  of  these  are  still  pre- 
served, and  are  matters  of  curious  reference  for  a  modern  lawyer. 

The  deliberations  of  the  club  were  rendered  highly  useful  by 
the  regular  attendance  of  the  elder  members  of  the  bar,  who  par- 
ticipated in  the  debates  upon  a  footing  of  perfect  equality  with  their 
juniors.  And  the  names  of  those  veteran  lawyers,  William  Smith, 
Samuel  Jones,  John  M.  Scott,  Richard  Morris,  William  Livingston, 
and  Benjamin  Kissam,  (not  to  specify  others,)  need  but  be  mention- 
ed to  prove  that  the  debates  in  which  they  participated,  could  not 


14  THELIFEOF 

have  been  barren  of  legal  sagacity,  or  of  profound  research  into 
the  hidden  wisdom  of  the  common  law. 

Among  the  junior  members  we  find  the  names  of  John  Jay, 
Egbert  Benson,  Robert  R.  Livingston,  Jun.,  James  Duane,  Gouver- 
neur  ^Morris,  and  Peter  Van  Schaack.* 

The  decisions  made  upon  these  debates  acquired  great  author- 
ity, and  the  law  on  several  points  in  particular  which  had  been 
thus  discussed  and  decided,  was  considered  as  settled,  by  the  bar 
generally,  and  "  The  Moot"  almost  acquired  the  authority  of  a 
court  of  the  last  resort. 

At  an  early  period  Mr.  Van  Schaack  gave  evident  proof  that 
he  was  destined  to  become  a  profound  lawyer.  His  ideas  of  busi- 
ness, and  of  the  proper  manner  of  doing  it,  were  distinguished  for 
precision  and  accuracy  from  the  commencement  of  his  professional 
career.  In  writing  to  a  brother  of  the  profession,  he  thus  rebukes 
the  carelessness  of  his  friend.  "  Permit  me  to  observe  that  the  deed 
drawn  in  your  office  w^as  rather  slovenly  copied,  and  by  its  many 
alterations  afterwards  looked  rather  out  of  the  way.  There  was, 
besides,  in  several  parts  of  it  an  ^'C,  which  I  cannot  think  proper, 
as  it  is  merely  nugatory,  and  cannot,  I  think,  make  the  deed  better 
than  it  would  otherwise  be.  Excuse  the  freedom  of  these  hints ; 
but  we  cannot  be  too  attentive  to  matters  of  this  kind.  A  lawyer's 
reputation,  like  a  woman's,  is  often  lost  by  one  error." 

But  he  was  as  willing  to  receive  the  suggestions,  as  to  perform 
the  office,  of  criticism.  In  writing  to  the  same  friend  at  another 
time,  he  says :  "  If  any  part  of  my  letter  is  exceptionable,  point  it 
out.  Nothing  clears  difficulties  like  candid  reasoning.  By  colli- 
sion of  sentiment  the  truth  is  struck  out,  like  fire  from  flint  and 
steel." 

TO  HENRY  VAN  SCHAACK. 
My  dear  Brother  : 

As  I  intend  going  down  to  New- York  on  Tuesday,  I  hope 
you  will  return  as  you  design  on  Monday.     I  left  the  Hallf  last 

*  The  author  is  unable  to  give  a  complete  list  of  the  members  of  the  Moot. 

t  Johnson  Hall.  This  letter  is  without  date,  but  was  evidently  written 
very  soon  after  Sir  William  Johnson's  death,  which  took  place  on  the  eleventh 
day  of  July,  1771,  although  accounts  differ  as  to  the  precise  time. 


PETERVANSCHAACK.  15 

evening,  where  every  thing  wears  the  face  of  sorrow  for  the  irre- 
parable loss  of  that  great  and  good  man,  Sir  William  Johnson, — 
a  loss  at  once  to  the  public,  and  a  numerous  train  of  the  indigent 
and  unfortunate,  who  derived  support  from  his  unequalled  benevo- 
lence and  generosity.  My  jaunt  up  to  Johnstown  has  given  me 
an  opportunity  of  seeing  so  many  instances  of  his  goodness ;  the 
settlement  there  compared  with  what  it  was  a  few  years  ago  so 
abundantly  shows  his  greatness  of  mind,  and  the  extensiveness  of 
his  views,  where  a  little  world  has  as  it  were  been  formed  by  his 
hand,  that  I  own  I  consider  him  as  the  greatest  character  of  the  age. 
I  have  several  circumstances  to  tell  you,  which,  though  not 
important  in  themselves,  must  be  interesting  to  you,  as  they  relate 
to  a  man,  who,  I  hope,  enjoys  the  fruit  of  those  virtues  which  will 
grow  more  conspicuous,  instead  of  being  forgotten,  by  length  of 
time.  Yours  affectionately, 

P.  Van  Schaack. 

In  1773,  he  was  appointed  to  the  important  and  responsible 
office  of  collecting  and  revising  the  statute  laws  of  the  colony  of 
New-York.  The  execution  of  the  work  was  intrusted  to  him 
solely,  and  it  was  performed  in  a  manner  highly  creditable  to  his 
judgment  and  industry.  At  this  time  he  was  only  twenty-six  years 
old.  His  revision  embraced  the  legislation  of  the  colony  from 
the  year  1691  to  1773  inclusive,  being  a  period  of  upwards  of  eighty 
years.  The  assiduity  with  which  he  applied  himself  to  this  work  had 
an  unfavorable  effect  upon  his  vision,  and  he  was  always  of  the 
opinion  that  it  was  a  leading  cause  of  his  subsequent  blindness. 
"  His  edition  of  the  colonial  statutes  (which  was  published  in  1774) 
is  still  a  necessary  appendage  to  the  libraries  of  our  lawyers." 

Very  soon  after  his  admission  to  the  bar  his  talents  acquired/" 
for  him  a  high  position  of  respectability,  and  he  took  his  stand  in^ 
that  bright  constellation  of  professional  talent  and  moral  worth, 
which  at  this  period  was  collected  in  the  city  of  New-York,  and 
constituted  the  bar  of  almost  the  whole  colony. 

But,  while  he  was  thus  laying  a  broad  foundation  for  a  noble 
structure  of  professional  fame,  his  mind  was  disturbed  and  driven 
from  the  pursuit  of  that  noble  science  which  had  so  deeply  enlisted 
his  ambition,  by  the  twofold  causes  of  domestic  affliction,  and 
popular  commotion. 


V 


16  THELIFEOF 


CHAPTERII. 

The  news  of  the  passage  of  the  act  of  Parliament  for  the  occlu- 
sion of  the  port  of  Boston,  reached  New-York  on  the  twelfth  of 
May  after  its  adoption.  On  the  sixteenth  of  the  same  month,  the 
merchants  and  other  inhabitants  of  the  city  assembled  at  the  Ex- 
change, and  nominated  fifty  persons  as  a  committee  "  to  correspond 
with  their  sister  colonies  upon  all  matters  of  moment."  The  list 
of  gentlemen  thus  selected,  was  submitted  to  a  more  general  meet- 
ing, held  on  the  nineteenth,  by  which  it  was  approved,  and  one 
other  gentleman  was  added  to  the  number.  Mr.  Van  Schaack  w^as 
a  member  of  this  committee. 

TO  PETER  SILVESTER. 

mw'York,  21  May,  111  A. 
Dear  Sir  : 

As  the  present  situation  of  Boston  engrosses  the  attention  of 
people  in  general,  and  you  will  no  doubt  be  curious  to  know  w^hat 
measures  are  adopted  here,  I  suppose  it  w^ill  not  be  unacceptable 
to  you  that  I  scribble  a  few  lines  upon  that  subject.  People  in 
town  are  somewhat  divided  in  sentiments  as  to  what  steps  it  will 
be  most  expedient  to  take.  A  non-importation  agreement  has  been 
mentioned,  and  some  have  even  gone  so  far  as  to  propose  entirely 
to  stop  our  exports  to  the  West  Indies :  these  measures  are  chiefly 
espoused  by  the  mechanics. 

The  merchants  insist  that  we  ought  not  precipitately  to  enter 
into  either  of  these  plans;  that  a  non-importation  will  draw  dowm 
the  vengeance  of  Great  Britain  upon  us,  and  that  will  probably 
bring  about  the  shutting  up  our  own  port ;  that  if  we  are  deprived 
of  our  exports,  we  shall  be  ruined ;  that  our  produce  will  lay  upon 
hand,  and  many  articles,  particularly  flaxseed,  being  of  a  perishable 
nature,  will  be  a  total  loss  upon  those  who  cannot  bear  it ;  that 


PETER     VAxNSCHAACK.  17 

our  tradesmen  will  be  without  employ,  our  merchants  be  incapable 
of  making  remittances,  and,  in  short,  all  ranks  and  denominations  of 
men  be  irreparably  injured.  It  has  been  proposed  that  British  debts 
should  not  be  paid,  but  this,  from  the  apparent  injustice  of  it,  is 
dropped. 

Some  think,  there  should  be  a  Congress  of  deputies  from  all 
the  colonies,  to  consider  of  some  general  plan  of  measures. 

Upon  the  whole,  it  has  been  thought  advisable  to  appoint  a 
committee  of  fifty  persons  to  consult  upon  the  present  state  of 
affairs,  to  correspond  with  the  neighboring  colonies,  &c.  Nothing 
decisive  has  yet  been  done.  The  committee  meet  on  Monday,  but 
w^hat  W' ill  be  resolved  is  yet  unknown.  It  has  been  mentioned,  that 
as  the  whole  colony  is  interested  in  the  measures  to  be  pursued,  it 
would  be  right  that  the  different  counties  should,  if  they  pleased, 
appoint  committees  to  act  in  concert  w^ith  the  committee  of  this 
city.  I  could  wish,  therefore,  that  these  hints  might  be  dissemi- 
nated through  your  county,  that  people  may  think  upon  the  subject 
a  little  and  give  their  opinions,  if  requisite,  how  far  a  non-ej:porta- 
tion  w^ould  be  tolerable.  As  I  have  the  honor  of  being  of  the 
committee,  I  should  be  glad  to  know  people's  sentiments. 

I  send  you  two  papers  w^hich  came  out  to-day,  which  after 
perusal  pray  send,  together  with  this  letter,  to  my  father,  who  may 
be  inquisitive  about  our  proceedings  here ;  Captain  Van  Alen  will 
deliver  them  to  you.     Love  to  Jane. 

I  am,  dear  sir,  yours, 

P.  V.  SCHAACK. 

"  This  committee  w^as  the  first  body  organized  in  the  colony  in 
opposition  to  the  measures  which  resulted  in  the  American  Revo- 
lution."* Mr.  Van  Schaack  was  appointed  a  member  of  most  of 
the  sub-committees,  and,  among  others,  of  a  committee  to  adopt 
measures  "for  the  relief  of  the  poor  of  the  town  of  Boston,"  and 
of  several  sub-committees  of  correspondence  in  relation  to  the  call- 
ing of  a  general  Congress.  He  continued  to  act  with  the  commit- 
tee until  its  dissolution  in  November. 

A  letter  will  here  be  introduced,  WTitten  on  the  sixth  of  April, 
1774,  to  the  Assembly  of  New-York,  by  Edmund  Burke,  the  agent 

*  Life  of  John  Jay,  Vol.  I.  p.  24. 

3 


18  THELIFEOF 

of  the  colony  in  London,  detailing  the  action  of  the  two  houses  of 
Parliament  with  respect  to  the  bills  in  relation  to  Boston  and  the 
Massachusetts  Bay.  So  little  of  the  correspondence  of  that  great 
statesman  with  the  colonial  Assembly  has  been  found,  or  is  known 
to  exist,  that  this  document  becomes  interesting,  and  deserves  to  be 
placed  in  a  condition  for  preservation.* 

"  The  subject  was  ample  and  serious.  Lord  North's  speech  on 
the  first  opening  of  the  matter  turned  on  the  absolute  necessity  of 
doing  something  immediate  and  effectual ;  for  things  were  come  to 
such  a  pass,  by  the  evil  disposition,  the  turbulent  conduct,  and  the 
dark  designs  of  many  in  the  colonies,  that  the  deliberation  was  no 
longer  upon  the  degrees  of  freedom  or  restraint  in  which  they  were 
to  be  held,  but  whether  they  should  be  totally  separated  from  their 
connection  with,  and  dependence  on,  the  parent  country  of  Great 
Britain :  and  that,  according  to  the  part  which  gentlemen  should 
take  for  or  against  the  measure  to  be  proposed,  a  judgment  would 
be  formed  of  their  disposition  to  or  against  that  connection  and 
dependence. 

"  This  topic  was  strongly  insisted  upon,  and  stated  in  the  same 
invidious  light,  by  other  persons  in  office,  and  in  general  by  all 
those  who  declared  themselves  in  favor  of  the  ministerial  pro- 
ceedings. On  the  first  day  appointed  for  the  consideration  of  the 
papers,  Lord  North  spoke  of  the  indispensable  necessity  of  vigorous 
measures,  but  in  a  tone  more  languid  and  moderate  than  is  usual  in 
the  expression  of  such  ideas.  The  outline  of  what  has  since 
appeared,  though  faintly  and  imperfectly,  w^as  indeed  chalked  out 
from  the  beginning. 

"  This  air  of  languor,  however,  wore  off  in  the  progress  of  the 
business.  The  ministry  seem  to  be  better  arranged  than  they 
appeared  to  be  at  first.  Lord  North  has  assumed  a  style  of  more 
authority,  and  more  decision ;  and  the  bill  laying  Boston  under  a 
commercial  interdict  during  the  King's  pleasure,  has  been  proposed 

*  It  is  evidently  a  copy,  barely  omitting  the  formal  commencement  and 
conclusion.  Its  authenticity  is  established  by  the  endorsement  in  Mr.  Van 
Schaack's  handwriting,  "  Mr.  Burke  to  the  Assembly  of  New- York."  In  the 
Appendix  A,  will  be  found  another  letter  from  Mr.  Burke  respecting  the 
hearing  at  the  Cockpit,  upon  the  petition  for  the  removal  of  Governor  Hutch- 
inson. 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  19 

and  supported  quite  through  with  expressions  of  the  utmost  firm- 
ness and  resolution. 

"  The  House  was  not  as  much  animated  as  I  have  seen  it  upon 
other  occasions  of  a  similar  nature.  It  did,  however,  very  readily 
concur  in  the  proposition  that  was  moved ;  not  so  much  from  any 
predilection  that  I  could  observe  to  the  particular  measure  which 
was  adopted,  as  from  a  general  notion  that  some  ad  of  power  was 
become  necessary,  and  that  the  hands  of  Government  ought  to  be 
strengthened,  by  affording  an  entire  credit  to  the  opinions  of  Min- 
istry in  the  choice  of  that  act,  as  the  best  pledge  of  the  future  sup- 
port the  House  was  to  give  in  the  effectual  execution  of  any 
coercive  proceeding. 

*'  The  popular  current,  both  within  doors  and  without,  at  present 
sets  strongly  against  America.  There  were  not  indeed  wanting 
some  few  persons  in  the  House  of  Commons,  who  disapproved  of 
the  bill,  and  who  expressed  their  disapprobation  in  the  strongest 
and  most  explicit  terms.  But  their  arguments  upon  this  point  made 
so  little  impression,  that  it  was  not  thought  advisable  to  divide  the 
House.  Those  who  spoke  in  opposition  did  it  more  for  the  acquittal 
of  their  own  honor,  and  discharge  of  their  own  consciences,  by  de- 
livering their  free  sentiments  on  so  critical  an  occasion,  than  for 
any  sort  of  hope  they  entertained  of  bringing  any  considerable 
number  to  their  opinion,  or  even  of  keeping  in  that  opinion  several 
of  those  who  had  formerly  concurred  in  the  same  general  line  of 
policy  with  regard  to  the  Colonies. 

"  The  gentlemen  who  spoke  against  the  bill,  rejected  that  state 
of  the  question  by  which  it  was  invidiously  presumed,  that  those 
who  opposed  the  bill  were  for  giving  up  the  constitutional  superi- 
ority of  this  country.  That  imputation  will  always  be  cast  off 
with  disdain  by  every  good  Englishman.  Every  good  Englishman 
as  such  must  be  a  friend  to  the  Colonies,  and  all  true  friends  to  the 
Colonies  (the  only  true  friends  they  have  had  or  ever  can  have  in 
England)  have  laid,  and  will  lay  down  the  proper  subordination 
of  America,  as  a  fundamental,  incontrovertible  maxim  in  the  gov- 
ernment of  this  empire.  This  idea,  to  which  they  tenaciously 
adhere  in  the  full  extent  of  the  proposition,  they  are  of  opinion  is 
nothing  derogatory  to  the  real  essential  rights  of  mankind,  which 


20  THELIFEOF 

tend  to  their  peace  and  prosperity,  and  without  the  enjoyment  of 
which,  no  honest  man  can  wish  the  dependence  of  one  country 
upon  another.  Very  unfortunately,  in  my  poor  thoughts,  the  advice 
of  that  sort  of  temperate  men  has  been  as  httle  attended  to  on  this 
side  of  the  Atlantic,  and  rather  less  on  the  other.  This  has  brought 
on  misunderstandings  and  heats,  where  nothing  should  exist,  but 
that  harmony  and  good  correspondence,  which  ought  naturally  to 
arise  from  the  entire  agreement  of  their  real  interests. 

"  I  ought  not  to  omit  acquainting  you  with  one  circumstance, 
that  happened  a  little  before  the  third  reading  of  the  Boston  bill. 
Mr.  Bollan,  agent  for  the  council  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  desired 
to  be  heard  against  it.  His  petition  was  not  received  by  the  House 
of  Commons,  on  the  idea  that  no  agent  could  be  authorized  but  by 
the  act  of  the  whole  Provincial  legislature.  To  what  consequences 
this  will  lead,  you  are,  gentlemen,  to  consider. 

"  In  the  House  of  Peers,  the  business  was  carried  on  nearly  in  the 
same  manner  in  which  it  passed  through  the  House  of  Commons. 
The  question  for  the  second  reading  produced  a  long  and  interest- 
ing debate,  but  for  the  same  reasons  which  prevailed  in  the  House 
of  Commons,  no  division  was  attempted. 

"  Several  alterations  have  been  proposed  in  the  Charter  Govern- 
ment of  Massachusetts  Bay,  but  the  plan  of  these  alterations  is  not 
yet  so  distinctly  settled,  with  regard  either  to  their  nature  or  extent, 
as  yet  to  afford  sufficient  means  of  forming  any  judgment  concern- 
ing them.  I  do  not  find  that  the  Ministers  intend  any  thing  further 
relative  to  America  this  session. 

"  Such  is,  as  well  as  I  am  able  to  discern  it,  the  temper  of  Par- 
liament and  of  the  nation,  at  this  moment,  which  I  thought  it  my 
duty  to  lay  before  you,  without  heightening  and  without  palliation; 
nobody  can  long  more  earnestly  than  I  do,  to  see  an  end  put  to 
these  unfortunate  differences. 

"  1  had  some  conversation  a  few  days  ago  with  Mr.  Pownall,  on 
the  subject  of  the  New  Hampshire  settlers  :  he  is  of  opinion,  that 
nothing  can  tend  to  the  speedy  and  happy  adjustment  of  that 
troublesome  matter  so  much,  as  to  settle  it  by  a  commission  com- 
posed of  impartial  persons  nominated  by  act  of  Assembly,  among 
which  he  thinks  it  would  be  proper  to  have  some  of  the  most  em- 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  21 

inent  of  the  judges  and  crown  lawyers ;  and  that  if  an  act  for 
that  purpose  were  framed  agreeably  to  the  general  instructions, 
it  would  receive  countenance  here. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  all  possible  regard  and  esteem, 
gentlemen,  "  Your  most  obedient." 

TO  JOHN  JAY  * 

JYew-York,  12th  October,  1774. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  should  have  gratified  your  curiosity  respecting  the  meetings 
in  the  Fields  immediately  after  I  received  your  letter,  but  was  then 
prevented,  and  have  been  so,  till  you  must  have  heard  the  particu- 
lars through  a  variety  of  channels.  In  short,  they  vanquished  in 
smoke,  at  least  as  to  the  subject  which  occasioned  them,  though 
they  produced  several  quarrels,  in  which  young  Sidney  was  led  to 
send  challenges  to  Sears  and  Vandervoort,  both  of  whom  declined 
the  perils  of  cold  iron.  The  General,  however,  to  wipe  off  the 
aspersion  of  cowardice,  wantonly  forced  himself  into  a  dispute  with 
a  sturdy  Hibernian  captain,  who  gave  him  a  very  severe  drubbing. 

I  did  hear  of  a  meeting  at  Rye,  where  some  resolves  were 
passed  expressive  of  a  spirit  of  loyalty  and  moderation ;  however, 
as  I  have  not  seen  them,  I  do  not  know  that  they  in  any  manner 
recognized  the  authority  of  the  British  Parliament. 

Capt.  McDougal,  upon  his  arrival  from  Philadelphia,  alarmed 
the  good  people  here  much,  by  the  report  of  a  probability  that  the 
Congress  will  adopt  an  agreement  of  non-exportation  of  flaxseed. 
By  the  pointed  questions  which  were  put  to  him  by  several  of  the 
members,  he  says  he  is  pretty  sure  such  a  measure  will  take  place. 
The  utility  of  such  a  measure  is  here  greatly  questioned,  or  rather  flatly 
denied.  Mr.  McD.  also  reports  that  Mr.  Mifflin,  one  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania delegates,  informed  him  that  a  non-importation  was 
already  agreed  upon,  and  that  no  goods  would  be  suffered  to  be 
landed  after  the  1st  December. 

The  transports,  with  the  troops,  except  the  one  that  is  to  carry 
the  General,  are  already  sailed  out  of  the  harbor. 

We  h^ar  from  Boston  that  the  Provincial  Congress  at  Concord 

♦  Attending  the  Continential  Congress  at  Philadelphia. 


22  THELIFEOF 

were  to  choose  a  Governor,  and  that  Mr.  Hancock  was  one  of  three 
candidates  for  that  office.  How  true  this  is,  I  know  not.  I  would 
send  you  some  httle  squibs  for  your  amusement,  but  that  they  are 
not  worth  the  postage. 

I  am,  dear  sir,  your  friend, 

And  most  humble  servant, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

Before  introducing  to  the  reader  the  correspondence  which  fol- 
lows, and  which  throws  light  upon  his  political  sentiments  at  this 
interesting  period,  it  will  be  proper  to  observe,  that  Henry  Cruger, 
Junior,  was  the  brother-in-law  of  Mr.  Van  Schaack,  who  had  mar- 
ried Mr.  Cruger's  sister.  He  was  an  American  by  birth,  and  his 
connections  resided  in  America.  His  sympathies  were  with  the 
colonies,  as  were  those  of  the  inhabitants  of  Bristol,  where  he 
resided  and  was  engaged  in  mercantile  business,  and  between 
which  city  and  the  American  colonies  an  extensive  and  advan- 
tageous commerce  had  been  carried  on,  which  was  interrupted  by 
the  public  troubles.  In  1774,  Mr.  Cruger  was  elected  to  repre- 
sent the  city  of  Bristol  in  the  English  House  of  Commons.  He  was 
the  colleague  in  that  body  of  Edmund  Burke,  who  was  chosen  a 
representative  for  Bristol  at  the  same  time.  His  political  principles 
brought  him  into  intimacy,  also,  with  Charles  James  Fox,  and  he 
was  one  of  that  "illustrious  band  of  the  champions  of  freedom" 
who  espoused  the  American  cause  in  the  British  Parliament.* 

Mr.  JohnVardili  w^as  a  member  of  King's  College  at  the  same 
time  with  Mr.  Van  Schaack,  and  they  were  intimate  friends.  He 
was  educated  for  the  ministry,  and  about  the  first  of  January,  1774, 
he  embarked  at  New-York  for  England,  for  the  purpose  of  taking 
orders.  On  the  death  of  Dr.  Ogilvie,  in  that  year,  Mr.  Vardill  w^as 
appointed  his  successor  in  the  church  at  New^-York.  He  did  not, 
however,  return  from  England.  It  is  believed  that  he  received 
some  employment  from  government.  It  is  certain  that  he  had 
access  to  ministers,  and  that  some  of  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  letters  to 
him,  deprecating  the  measures  of  ministers,  were  shown  to  them. 

*  Mr.  Cruger  was  twice  re-elected  to  Parliaraerit,  and  he  waff-atterwards 
chosen  Mayor  of  Bristol.  Some  years  after  the  peace,  he  removed  to  New- 
York,  where  he  resiaed  until  his  decease  a  few  years  since. 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  23 

Unfortunately,  the  author  has  not  been  able  to  recover  the  letters 
written  by  Mr.  Van  Schaack  to  Mr.  Cruger  while  the  latter  was  a 
member  of  Parliament,  but  the  rough  drafts  of  some  of  his  letters 
to  Mr.  Vardill  were  found  among  his  papers. 

TO  JOHN  VARDILL. 

JVew'York,  Feb.  19th,  1774. 
Dear  Sir: 

My  engagements  to  an  absent  friend  always  carry  with  them 
an  indispensable  obligation,  and  which  in  the  present  case  can 
be  exceeded  only  by  the  pleasure  arising  from  the  performance. 
Near  two  months  have  elapsed  since  you  sailed,  and  yet  not  a  single 
opportunity  has  offered,  the  packet  excepted,  to  enable  me  to  give 
you  a  specimen  of  my  punctuality  as  a  correspondent.  The  ship, 
however,  which  I  intend  shall  carry  this  letter,  has  nearly  com- 
pleted her  cargo,  and  I  now  begin  a  letter,  which  I  shall  keep  open 
for  future  occurrences  till  she  sails. 

Disposed  as  I  am  to  contribute  my  mite  towards  answering 
your  expectations  of  utility  from  a  correspondence  with  your 
friends  in  this  quarter,  I  should  most  readily  have  entered  upon 
those  political  topics  you  recommended  to  me,  and  which  we 
apprehended,  before  your  departure,  would  have  become  im- 
portant from  the  measures  of  the  colonies.  But  nothing  of  mo- 
ment has  happened  respecting  the  tea,  since  the  exploit  of  our 
eastern  brethren.  In  Carolina,  indeed,  it  has  been  sold,  upon  a 
seizure  for  want  of  a  regular  entry  at  the  custom-house,  within  the 
limited  time.  Here,  this  has  long  almost  ceased  to  be  a  subject  of 
conversation — the  ship  not  being  arrived,  nor  expected.  It  is  said, 
however,  that  if  she  does  come,  she  is  immediately  to  return. 

We  are  anxious  to  hear  in  what  light  government,  at  home, 
will  take  up  our  proceedings,  especially  those  of  the  Bostonians. 
The  opposition  of  the  colonies  is  growing  so  powerful  with  their 
increasing  strength,  that  I  believe  the  Parliament  will  begin  to 
think  conciliatory  methods  the  most  eligible.  The  benefits  arising 
from  our  commerce  is  all  Great  Britain  ought  to  expect.  By 
grasping  at  more,  they  will  probably  lose  all.  The  absurdity  of 
uniting  the  idea  of  a  right  in  the  Americans  to  the  liberties  of 
Englishmen,  with  that  of  a  subordination  to  the  British  Parliament, 


I 


24  THELIFEOF 

is  every  day  growing  more  evident.  This  is  a  solecism.  Claims 
so  incompatible  cannot  be  reconciled  ;  on  one  side  or  other  they 
must  be  false.  God  forbid  the  major  vis  should  be  necessary  to 
decide  the  contest. 

Equally  invidious  will  be  considered  any  exertions  of  the  pre- 
rogative towards  the  people  of  America,  which  w^ould  be  deemed 
unconstitutional  at  home.  It  is  upon  this  principle,  that  all  the 
Assemblies  on  the  continent  have,  by  spirited  resolutions,  declared 
against  the  legality  of  the  commission  lately  executed  at  Rhode 
Island — a  commission  founded  upon  maxims  indeed  subversive  of 
those  rights  which  are  not  to  be  controverted,  and  upon  the  perver- 
sion of  a  most  excellent  statute. 

In  Philadelphia,  they  have  lately  attacked  the  powers  of  the 
Court  of  Vice  Admiralty  established  there.  Their  objections  to 
this  tribunal  arise  chiefly  from  these  circumstances :  1.  That  the 
judge's  salary  is  derived,  in  the  Jirst  instance,  from  the  penalties 
and  forfeitures  accruing  from  the  condemnations  in  the  courts  of 
vice  admiralty,  and,  among  the  rest,  in  that  in  which  himself  pre- 
sides. 2.  That  it  gives  him  cognizance  of  crimes  which  ought  to 
be  tried  by  a  jury,  agreeable  to  the  statute  of  Henry  Eighth.  3. 
That  it  gives  him  jurisdiction  on  civil  contracts,  which  do  not 
properly  belong  to  this  court,  which  the  common  law,  they  say, 
has  always  beheld  with  an  eye  of  jealousy. 

In  North  Carolina,  a  spirit  of  discontent  is  again  prevailing  in 
the  Assembly.  From  the  Crovernor's  speech  to  them,  it  appears 
that  they  have  called  in  question  the  legality  of  a  court  which  he 
had  constituted  for  the  trial  of  some  criminals,  and  upon  that  prin- 
ciple, it  seems  they  have  refused  making  provision  for  the  expense 
attending  it.  This  is  a  most  extraordinary  procedure  indeed,  if  it 
be  rightly  represented.  If  the  constituting  courts  for  the  dispensa- 
tion of  justice  according  to  law,  which  excludes  the  idea  of  a  power 
to  erect  tribunals  with  new  and  unusual  jurisdictions,  belong  not  to 
the  prerogative,  I  do  not  know  what  does.  I  must  refer  you  to  the 
papers  for  the  particulars  of  this,  and  other  matters  your  curiosity 
will  make  interesting  to  you.  I  shall  concert  a  plan  with  Mr. 
Laight  to  furnish  you  with  all  the  papers  if  it  be  not  already  done. 

Thus  have  I  given  you  a  little  sketch  of  the  most  important 
transactions  on  the  continent,  as  they  have  been  communicated  to  us 


PETER     VAN      SCHAACK.  25 

through  the  channels  of  the  newspapers  ;  so  far  as  they  respect  the 
grand  controversy  with  the  country  you  are  now  in.  I  shall  only 
add,  that  here  all  is  peace  and  tranquillity — the  most  perfect  har- 
mony between  the  different  branches  of  the  legislature.  I  own, 
when  I  compare  the  conduct  of  this  colony  with  that  of  its  neigh- 
bors, I  cannot  but  determine  much  in  favor  of  it.  It  is  true  we 
hiave  some  folks,  who,  in  the  extravagance  of  liberty,  have  proved 
exceptions  to  this  observation;  but  the  prevailing,  characterizing 
temper  of  the  generality  of  the  people  here,  is,  I  think,  a  spirit  of 
liberty  untainted  w^ith  licentiousness,  and  a  subordination  to  govern- 
ment free  from  an  abject  submission  to  arbitrary  powder.  Would 
the  spirit  of  our  neighbors  could  entirely  be  assimilated  ! 

Upon  the  whole,  you  will  observe  that  new  sources  of  contro- 
versy are  opening  every  day,  and  the  people  of  this  country  seem 
determined  to  lop  off  every  excrescence  from  the  body  politic. 
Happy  if  they  can  stop  at  the  true  point,  and  in  order  to  obtain 
the  fruit,  if,  like  the  savages  of  Louisiana,  according  to  Montes- 
quieu, they  do  not  cut  down  the  tree. 

The  College-club  goes  on  but  heavily.  Your  worthy  friend 
Laight  will  inform  you  of  the  particulars. 

And  now  how  do  you  do ;  what  passage  had  you  ;  what  parts 
of  England  have  you  seen  ?  Have  you  received  your  ordination  as 
yet  ?  Have  you  preached  ?  What  stay  do  you  make  ?  Be  minute 
in  your  letter  on  these  topics,  or  any  others  you  like — on  my  punc- 
tuality you  may  depend.  Be  not  afraid  of  egotisms,  for  every 
thing  which  concerns  you,  will  be  interesting  to  your  friends,  and 
to  none  more  than  to,  dear  sir,  

TO  PETER  VAN  SCHAACK. 

London,  April  bth,  1774. 
My  dear  Sir  : 

A  longer  delay  of  writing  to  you  I  would  account  ungrateful 
in  myself.  The  friendship  you  always  showed  me  at  New- York, 
and  the  civilities  I  met  with  at  Bristol,  by  means  of  the  kind  letters 
of  Mr.  Cruger,  lay  me  under  obligations  which  shall  never  be  for- 
gotten. I  shall  rejoice  at  an  opportunity  of  testifying  this  gratitude 
by  proper  returns. 

An  exact  narrative  of  my  adventures,  a  description  of  this 

4 


26  THELIFEOF 

metropolis,  the  manners  of  its  inhabitants,  &c.,  would  in  a  great 
measure  be  uninteresting,  and  is  a  task  which  I  cannot  command,  at 
present,  any  time  to  execute.  The  hospitality  of  the  gentlemen 
here  has  exceeded  my  highest  expectations,  and  the  easy  access  to, 
and  courtesy  of,  men  of  eminence  and  literature,  render  London  very 
af^reeable.  Objects  capable  of  improving  the  mind,  and  gratifying  its 
curiosity,  meet  you  at  every  step.  The  numerous  societies  for  dis- 
putation, for  the  cultivation  of  the  arts  and  sciences,  and  for  politi- 
cal and  religious  purposes,  furnish  an  unending  variety  of  amuse- 
ments, and  constant  sources  of  instruction.  The  free  association  of 
persons  of  all  orders  at  clubs,  and  the  numerous  coffee-houses,  and 
the  openness  and  famiharity  which  prevail,  give  a  contemplative 
mind  every  hour  some  new  matter  for  its  advantage.  Personages 
of  the  greatest  importance  affect  not  that  distance  and  magisterial 
reserve,  which  is  so  common  among  those  who  can  only  preserve 
their  dignity  by  the  mysterious  appendages  of  greatness. 

Your  friend  last  week  was  admitted  to  the  rank  of  Priest,  and 
hopes  that  his  humble  and  zealous  labors  for  the  benefit  of  mankind, 
will  render  him  not  unworthy  of  his  ofhce. 

The  politics  of  the  day  you  will  learn  from  the  papers.  Ad- 
ministration is  determined  to  seize  the  present  opportunity  while 
the  nation  and  its  neighbors  are  in  tranquillity,  to  fix  the  relation  of 
America  to  the  Mother  country,  and  to  adopt  some  measures  which 
may  have  a  full  and  permanent  tendency  to  confirm  the  dependence 
of  the  colonies.  You  may  be  assured,  whatever  the  papers  may 
say,  that  persons  of  all  parties  in  government,  or  who  have  any 
influence  on  its  movements,  are  universally  disposed  to  co-operate 
in  settling  the  dispute  on  a  firm  foundation,  and  in  maintaining  the 
supremacy  of  Parliament.  Such  is  the  spirit  of  the  nation,  that  an 
opposition  to  your  claims  is  necessary  to  acquire  popularity.  Should 
the  peoj)le  of  Boston  make  a  forcible  resistance  to  the  late  Bill, 
you  may  depend  on  it,  that  the  whole  strength  of  England,  if  ne- 
cessary, will  be  exercised  to  punish  them. 

What  are  the  measures  which  are  intended  for  the  furtherance  of 
the  subordination  of  the  colonies  in  general,  have  not  yet  transpired. 
This  only  is  certain,  that  every  government  will  be  modelled  after 
the  form  of  that  of  New-York. 

The  Parliament  will  meet  next  week,  and  it  will  then  be  de- 


PETER     VANSCHAACK.  27 

termined  whether  you  are  to  send  representatives  from  your  several 
colonies,  to  be  governed  in  the  nrianner  of  Ireland,  or  what,  perhaps 
themselves  yet  know  not. 

Your  many  instances  of  friendship  convince  me  that  I  may 
expect  from  you  all  that  advice  and  assistance  which  may  be  useful 
in  my  affairs.  May  I  then  entreat  you  to  write  me  a  state  of  the 
affairs  of  America,  the  temper  of  its  inhabitants,  what  alterations 
and  improvements  in  the  civil  policy  of  the  province  you  may 
judge  useful,  and  what  plan  of  measures  you  conceive  would  please 
the  Americans,  and  remove  future  contentions.  I  desire,  with  the 
utmost  sincerity  and  warmth,  to  acknowledge  my  obligations  to 
Mr.  Cruger  and  his  respectable  family,  and  am 

Your  unfeigned  friend, 

John  Vardill. 

P.  S.     Write  me  largely,  speedily,  and  often,  and  you  wdll  find 
me  not  remiss  in  cultivating  so  pleasing  a  correspondence. 


TO  REV.  JOHN  VARDILL. 

JS'ew-York,  May  13th,  1774. 
My  dear  Sir  : 

Yesterday  your  long  wished  for  letter  w^as  delivered  me  by 
Captain  Coupar,  who  had  a  remarkably  short  passage  of  tw^enty- 
seven  days  from  London.  Nothing  can  be  more  agreeable  than 
those  sentiments  of  friendship  you  express  for  me;  and  my  esteem 
for  you  is  so  far  from  abating  by  absence,  that  I  feel  it  every  day 
increasing. 

I  should  have  gladly  received  from  your  descriptive  pen,  a  par- 
ticular narrative  of  your  adventures;  but  this,  considering  your 
numerous  correspondents  in  this  quarter,  is  more  than  I  have  a 
right  to  expect.  I  promised  myself,  however,  many  agreeable 
hours'  entertainment  upon  this  subject,  on  your  return.  Imperfect 
as  my  ideas  are  of  the  great  metropolis  you  are  in,  I  frequently 
indulge  my  fancy,  and  in  imagination  accompany  you  in  some  of 
the  various  scenes,  whether  of  amusement  or  instruction,  to  which 
you  have  such  ready  access.  That  great  variety  of  objects  calcu- 
lated to  gratify  the  mind  in  every  disposition  of  it,  whether  grave 


28  THELIFEOF 

or  gay,  serious  or  ludicrous,  whether  of  improvement  or  relaxation, 
I  can  just  form  ideas  of  sufficient  to  make  me  lament  their  being 

out  of  my  reach. 

The  measures  of  government,  so  strongly  indicating  a  determi- 
nation to  establish  the  supremacy  of  Parliament  over  these  colonies, 
are  truly  alarming.  When  claims  are  so  inconsistent,  indeed,  it 
would  be  chimerical  to  expect  a  decision  of  them  upon  the  princi- 
ples of  reason  merely.  An  appeal  to  the  sword  I  am  afraid  is 
inevitable,  but  palliating  measures  might  have  kept  it  off  for  a 
lon^--  time.  The  mutual  interests  of  both  should  have  restrained 
either  from  hastening  the  crisis,  but  I  am  afraid  the  die  is  cast. 
Divis  permittitur,  ccetera  I 

We  have  no  account  of  General  Gage's  being  as  yet  arrived  in 
Boston,  nor  is  it  possible  to  form  a  conjecture  w^hat  reception  he 
will  meet  with  when  he  comes.  On  an  event  so  singular  and  so 
momentous,  people  have  hardly  recovered  from  their  admiration ; 
the  temper  of  mind  which  w^ill  succeed  it,  cannot  be  guessed  at 
with  any  tolerable  degree  of  probability. 

As  to  any  measures  which  would  please  the  Americans,  I  own 
I  never  yet  heard  such  pointed  out,  to  which  the  approbation 
of  the  mother  country  could  be  expected.  An  absolute  exemption 
from  Parliamentary  taxation  in  every  case  w^hatever,  is  what  the 
colonies  will  never  recede  from.  Indeed,  if  that  is  not  their  right, 
they  do  not  enjoy  the  privileges  of  British  subjects.  That  it  is 
their  right,  is  a  concession  we  cannot  expect  from  England,  until 
necessity  shall  compel  them  to  it. 

We  are  anxious  to  hear  the  ultimate  resolutions  of  the  cabinet 
respecting  the  colonies.  That  they  should  all  be  modelled,  in  their 
form  of  government,  after  that  of  New-York,  would  be  a  desirable 
measure,  if  means  to  effect  it  could  be  fallen  upon,  unexceptionable 
in  their  nature.  An  American  representation  in  Parliament,  is  a 
plan  which  will  never  be  agreed  to.  In  all  the  resolutions  of  our 
Assemblies,  and  of  every  association  of  the  people,  they  have  held 
up  the  idea  of  the  absurdity  of  such  a  measure,  from  our  local  situa- 
tion. Indeed,  such  a  representation  w^ould  be  but  a  sound.  An 
officer  in  the  nature  of  a  viceroy,  a  parliament  composed  of  dele- 
gates from  the  different  colonies,  a  council  with  hereditary  honors, 
have  been  mentioned  as  the  only  expedient  of  forming  a  regular 


PETERVANSCHAACK.  29 

plan  of  government  for,  and  of  settling  a  lasting  basis  of  mutual 
friendship. 

To  this  American  Parliament  it  is  proposed  that  requisitions 
should  be  made,  and  by  them  the  different  quotas  and  proportions 
of  the  general  expense  ascertained,  and  these  to  be  raised  by  the 
Provincial  Assembly  of  each  colony.  Perhaps  such  a  scheme  is 
capable  of  improvement,  but  it  is  feared  that  jealousies  would  be 
entertained  of  an  officer  clothed  with  such  vast  powers,  and  at  such 
a  distance  from  the  capital  of  the  empire.  Procul  a  Jove,  procid  a 
Fulmine. 

I  shall  not  make  any  apology  for  this  long  letter,  though  I  am 
sensible  that  a  mere  relation  oi facts  would  have  been  more  useful 
than  those  undigested  sentiments  I  have  ventured  to  throw  out. 
But,  remember,  you  desired  me  to  write  long  letters,  and  who  can 
be  expected  to  say  any  thing  new  to  you,  w^hose  means  of  informa- 
tion have  been  so  extensive  and  so  well  improved,  and  whose  tal- 
ents are  sufficient  to  comprehend  almost  every  subject  as  it  w^ere 
intuitively  ? 

I  heartily  congratulate  you,  on  your  initiation  into  holy  orders. 
Retain  your  virtue  and  goodness  of  heart,  my  friend,  and  fear  not 
but  you  w^ill  be  a  valuable  member  of  society.  Never  w^ere  great 
abilities  and  an  exemplary  life  in  the  clergy  more  necessary  than 
at  present.  Irreligion  and  deism  are  gaining  ground  here  to  a 
great  degree,  and  I  cannot  help  anticipating  the  pleasure  I  shall 
receive,  from  seeing  the  cause  of  Christianity  supported  by  so  able 
an  advocate  as  my  friend  Vardill. 

TO  PETER  VAN  SCHAACK. 

London,  July  22d,  1774. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  have  just  time  to  take  up  my  pen,  and  acknowledge  the 
receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  eleventh  of  June,  by  Mr.  Savage.  I 
had  been  some  days  in  town  from  Oxford  before  I  saw  that  gentle- 
man ;  but  hearing  he  had  inquired  for  me,  I  w^aited  on  him  at  his 
lodgings,  and  afterwards  received  your  letter  from  him  at  the  New- 
York  Coffee-house. 

I  have  taken  the  liberty  of  communicating  your  sentiments  on 
American  affairs  to  his  Lordship,  by  reading  one  of  your  letters  to 


30  THELIFEOF 

him.  lie  approved  its  good  sense,  and  some  of  the  opinions,  but 
denied  the  truth  of  one  of  your  propositions,— that  Americans,  if 
taxed  without  representation,  enjoyed  not  the  privileges  of  Enghsh- 
men,  and  were  in  a  state  of  slavery.  1  did  not  presume  to  contra- 
dict him  directly,  but  olFcred  such  arguments  as  I  said  would  be 
frcnerally  made  use  of  in  America.  I  wish,  my  dear  friend,  you 
wouhl  exert  your  latent  powers,  and  give  me  a  detail  of  the  state 
of  America,  what  terms  would  pacify  their  opposition,  what  alter- 
ations in  their  internal  policy  would  be  of  advantage,  and  your 
retlections  on  any  collateral  subjects.  It  may  be  of  advantage  to 
you,  by  being  a  proof  of  your  knowledge  of  American  affairs. 
Vou  may  be  assured,  I  will  employ  any  thing  of  that  sort  to  your 
highest  advantage,  and  hope,  even  when  I  return  to  New-York,  to 
have  established  such  a  correspondence  here,  as  will  be  of  advan- 
tage to  my  friends. 

I  am  sorry  that  the  shortness  and  disorder  of  my  letters  may  give 
you  just  cause  to  suspect  me  of  having  forgotten  my  promise  of 
correspondence.  My  future  exactness  and  attention  to  you  shall, 
I  flatter  myself,  free  me  from  this  imputation,  and  render  me  some 
way  deserving  of  your  useful  and  entertaining  letters.  If  you  can 
propose  any  thing  for  your  advantage,  in  which  it  may  lie  in  my 
power  to  benefit  you,  with  freedom  communicate  it,  and  you  shall 
find  no  person  more  faithful  to  your  interests.  I  am  sorry  that, 
though  I  have  a  thousand  things  to  say  to  you,  I  must  so  soon 
conclude  this  letter,  with  an  assurance  of  my  being 

Your  hearty  and  zealous  friend, 

John  Vardill. 

FROM  HENRY  CRUGER,  JUNIOR. 

London^  6th  Dec^r,  1774. 
Mv  DtAR  Kinsman: 

Here  I  am  attending  my  duty  in  Parliament.  Brickdale  has 
preferred  his  petition  against  Burke  and  me.  The  consideration 
of  it  is  deferred  till  after  Christmas. 

The  King's  speech,  you  will  perceive,  is  flaming.  The  address 
to  it  is  made  by  the  same  fabricator.  If  1  had  time,  I  would  say 
more  on  both,  having  no  doubt  nor  apprehensions  that  you  would 
publisJi  my  litter.     I  shall  not  oppose  government  for  the  sake 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  31 

of  opposition,  but  will  join  Lord  North  whenever  I   think   hirn 
right. 

Vardlll  I  met  by  mere  accident  in  the  street;  he  breakfasted 
with  me,  and  is  exceeding  clever,  but  must,  will  he  ministerial. 
His  abilities  are  found  out :  siib  rosa — my  opinion  is,  you'll  never 
see  him  in  America  again — vcrhum  sat.  He  showed  me  your  last 
letter  to  him.  I  much  admire  some  of  the  sentiments  in  it,  and 
shall  let  them  off  in  the  House.  You  may  rely  upon  it,  I  will 
connect  myself  with  none  of  the  violent  parties,  but  endeavor  to 
temper  my  fire  with  prudence.  I  go  into  the  House  with  a  good 
character,  except  in  the  opinion  of  Lord  North,  whom  somebody, 
no  friend  of  mine,  has  made  believe  I  am  all  gunpowder.  Before 
the  month  is  out,  he  and  the  whole  House  shall  be  undeceived,  if  a 
moderate  and  a  modest  speech  can  effect  it.  I  am  not  very  well, 
and  unfortunately  hurried  more  than  ever  I  was  in  my  life.  Law^- 
yers,  members,  petitioners,  evidences,  &c.  &c.  &c.,  drive  me  almost 
mad. 

My  love  to  my  dear  Bess,  and  to  Harry  and  Cornelius,  and  all 
friends,  great  and  small,  young  and  old.  I  wish  it  may  ever  be  in 
my  power  to  convince  you,  by  some  most  essential  service,  how^ 
sincerely  and  affectionately  I  am,  my  dear  sir. 

Your  faithful  and  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Hen.  Cruger. 

The  author  is  unable  to  place  before  the  reader  the  particular 
letter  from  Mr.  Van  Schaack  to  Mr.  Vardill,  the  sentiments  of 
which  Mr.  Cruger  promised  "  to  let  off  in  the  House.^'  It  was  no 
doubt  distinguished  for  that  dignified  moderation  which  character- 
terized  his  opinions  and  writings.  The  following  speech  delivered 
by  Mr.  Cruger,  ten  days  after  the  date  of  his  letter,  (and  it  was  his 
maiden  speech  in  Parliament^)  leaves  us  to  infer  what  those  senti- 
ments were : 

"  I  rise,  sir,  to  say  a  few"  words  on  this  important  subject,  with 
all  the  diffidence  and  awe  w^hich  must  strike  the  mind  on  a  first 
attempt  to  speak  before  so  august  an  assembly.  Had  I  remained 
silent  on  this  occasion,  I  must  have  condemned  myself  for  seeming 
to  desert  a  cause  which  I  think  it  my  duty  to  espouse.     I  cannot 


32  T  H  E     L  I  F  E     0  F 

but  be  heard  with  candor  by  Englishmen,  when  what  I  offer  is  dic- 
tated by  a  love  to  my  country. 

"  1  am  fiir  from  approving  all  the  proceedings  in  America. 
Many  of  tlieir  measures  have  been  a  dishonor  to  their  cause. 
Their  rights  mit^ht  have  been  asserted  without  violence,  and  their 
claims  stateil  with  temper  as  well  as  firmness.  But  permit  me  to 
say,  sir,  that  if  they  have  erred,  it  may  be  considered  as  a  failing 
of  human  nature.  A  people  animated  with  a  love  of  liberty,  and 
alarmed  with  apprehensions  of  its  being  in  danger,  will  unavoidably 
run  into  excesses  ;  the  history  of  mankind  declares  it  in  every  page; 
and  Britons  ought  to  view  with  an  eye  of  tenderness  acts  of  impru- 
dence to  which  their  fellow-subjects  in  America  may  have  been 
hurried,  not,  as  has  been  unkindly  said,  by  a  rebellious  spirit,  but 
bv  tliat  jrenerous  spirit  of  freedom,  which  has  often  led  their  own 
ancestor  into  indiscretions. 

"  Acts  of  severity  are  far  from  having  a  tendency  to  eradicate 
jealousies ;  on  the  contrary,  they  must  produce  new  fears,  and 
endanger  that  attachment  and  obedience  which  kindness  and  gen- 
tleness miirht  have  insured. 

"  No  country  has  been  more  happy  in  its  colonies  than  Great 
Britain.  Cemented  by  mutual  interests,  (till  the  era  of  the  fatal 
stamp  act,)  they  flourished  in  an  intercourse  of  amity,  protection 
and  obedience,  supporting  and  supported  by  each  other.  Before 
that  hated  period,  we  meet  with  no  instances  of  disobedience  to 
your  laws,  no  denial  of  the  jurisdiction  of  Parliament,  no  marks  of 
jealousy  and  discontent.  They  ever  loved  liberty  ;  their  zeal  for  it 
is  coeval  with  their  first  emigration  to  America.  They  were  per- 
secuted for  it  in  this  country  ;  they  sought  a  sanctuary  in  the 
unexplored  regions  of  that.  They  cleared  their  inhospitable  wilds, 
cultivated  their  lands,  and  poured  the  wealth  which  they  derived 
from  agriculture  and  commerce,  into  the  bosom  of  the  mother 
country. 

''  Vf-u  protected  them  in  their  infant  state,  and  they  returned  it, 
by  contining  to  you  the  benefits  of  their  trade.  You  regulated 
their  commerce  for  the  advantage  of  this  country,  and  they  never 
discovered  an  opposition,  either  to  the  authority  or  the  exercise  of 
it.  Are  these  evidences  of  a  spirit  of  disaffection  to  Great  Britain, 
or  ingratitude  for  its  protection  ?     Are  they  not  rather  proofs,  that 


PETER      VAN      SC  II  AACK.  33 

if  the  same  line  of  mild  and  lenient  government  had  been  pur- 
sued, the  same  cordiality  and  submission  ^vould  have  been  con- 
tinued. 

"  Every  American  "who  loves  his  country,  must  wish  the  pros- 
perity of  Great  Britain,  and  that  their  union  may  ever  subsist  unin- 
terrupted. If  the  parental  trunk  is  injured,  the  branches  must  suf- 
fer with  it.  A  subordination  on  the  part  of  the  colonies,  is  essential 
to  this  union.  I  acknowledge,  sir,  that  there  must  exist  a  power 
somewhere  to  superintend  and  regulate  the  movements  of  the 
whole,  for  the  attainment  and  preservation  of  our  common  happi- 
ness :  this  supreme  power  can  be  justly  and  adequately  exercised 
only  by  the  legislature  of  Great  Britain.  In  this  doctrine  the  co- 
lonies tacitly  acquiesced,  and  were  happy.  England  enjoyed  by 
it  all  the  advantages  of  an  exclusive  trade.  Why,  then,  strain 
this  authority  so  much  as  to  render  a  submission  to  it  impossible, 
without  a  surrender  of  those  liberties  which  are  most  valuable  in 
civil  society,  and  were  ever  acknowledged  the  birthright  of  Eng- 
lishmen. When  Great  Britain  derives  from  her  colonies  the  most 
ample  supplies  of  wealth  by  her  commerce,  is  it  not  absurd  to 
close  up  those  channels,  for  the  sake  of  a  claim  of  imposing  taxes, 
which,  (though  a  young  member,)  I  will  dare  to  say,  never  have, 
and  probably  never  will  defray  the  expense  of  collecting  them  ? 

"  The  expediency  of  coercive  measures  is  much  insisted  on  by 
some,  who,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  seem  to  consider  more  the  distress 
into  which  they  will  involve  the  Americans,  than  the  benefits  they 
can  procure  from  such  vindictive  conduct  to  this  country.  Hu- 
manity, however,  will  prompt  the  generous  mind  to  weep  over 
severities,  though  they  may  be  even  necessary ;  and  a  prudent 
statesman  will  reflect,  that  the  colonies  cannot  suffer  without  in- 
jury to  Great  Britain.  They  are  your  customers ;  they  consume 
your  manufactures ; — by  distressing  them,  if  you  do  not  drive  them 
to  foreign  markets,  you  will  most  assuredly  disable  them  from 
taking  your  commodities,  and  from  making  you  returns  for  what 
they  have  taken. 

"Should  coercive  measures  reduce  them  to  an  acknowledg- 
ment of  the  equity  of  Parhamentary  taxation,  what  are  the  advan- 
tao-es  which  will  result  from  it  ?  Can  it  be  thought  that  the  Amer- 

o  ... 

icans  will  be  dragooned  into  a  conviction  of  this  right  ?     Will 


3. 


4  T  H  F,      I.  I  F  E      O  F 


severities  increase  tlicir  alKection,  and  make  tliem  more  desirous  of 
a  connection  witii,  and  dependence  on  Great  Britain  ? 

"  Is  it  not,  on  the  contrary,  reasonable  to  conclude,  that  the 
cfTect  will  be  an  increase  of  jealousy  and  discontent ;  that  they 
vill  seek  all  occasions  of  evading  laws  imposed  on  them  by  vio- 
lence ;  that  they  will  be  restless  under  the  yoke,  and  think  them- 
selves happy  under  an  opportunity  of  flying  to  the  protection  of 
any  otht-r  power,  from  the  subjection  of  a  mother,  whom  they  con- 
sider cruel  and  vindictive  ? 

'•  1  would  not  be  understood,  sir,  to  deny  the  good  intentions 
of  administration.  The  abilities  of  the  minister,  it  seems,  are  uni- 
versally acknowledged;  but  I  must  add,  humanum  est  errare. 
Thouc^h  an  American,  I  applaud  his  jealousy  for  the  dignity  of 
Parliament,  and  think  the  impolicy  and  inexpediency  of  the  late 
measures  may  reasonably  be  imputed  to  the  dithculty  of  the  occa- 
sion, anil  the  unsettled  and  undefmed  nature  of  the  dependence  of 
the  colonies  on  the  mother  country  ;  and,  vice  versa,  candor  must 
ailmit  the  same  apology  for  the  violences  and  mistakes  of  America. 

"•  But,  since  these  measures  have  been  found,  by  sad  experi- 
ence, totally  inadequate  ;  since  they  have  widened  the  breach,  in- 
stead of  closing  it ;  diminished  the  obedience  of  the  colonies,  in- 
stead of  confirming  it ;  increased  the  turbulence  and  opposition, 
instead  of  allaying  them ;  it  may  be  hoped,  that  a  different  plan 
of  conduct  may  be  pursued,  and  some  firm  and  liberal  constitution 
adopted  by  the  wisdom  of  this  House,  which  may  secure  the  colo- 
nists in  their  liberties,  while  it  maintains  the  just  supremacy  of 
Parliament." 

Thus  the  sentiments  of  Peter  Van  Schaack,  in  opposition  to 
those  obnoxious  measures  which  led  to  the  American  revolution, 
had  an  utterance,  at  this  early  period,  tluough  his  friend  Mr.  Cru- 
ger,  in  the  liriti^h  liuuse  of  Commons. 

There  is  a  studied  moderation  in  the  language  of  this  speech,* 
w  hich  was  in  a  great  measure  affected  by  Mr.  Cruger,  from  a  de- 
sire to  pruiluce  the  greater  effect,  and  to  procure  a  relaxation  of 

♦  Mr.  Crugcr'.x  Icitors  show  liim  to  have  been  a  man  of  ardent  tempera- 
ment, and  of  lofty  patriotism,  (as  those  who  were  acquainted  with  him 
knew  him  to  be.)  Some  of  the  speeches  delivered  by  him  subsequently  were 
highly  animated  and  clo<iUcnt.     See  Appendix,  B. 


P  E  T  R  R      V  A  N      S  C  H  A  A  r;  K  .  35 

the  severe  measures  against  llie  colonies.  It  was  delivered,  how- 
ever, in  a  most  impressive  and  eloquent  manner,  as  appears  by  the 
following  graphic  description,  contained  in  a  letter  written  by  Mr. 
Vardill,  IVom  London,  to  Mr.  Van  Schaack. 

*'  Mr.  Cruger's  fame  has,  I  suppose,  by  this  time  readied  his 
native  shore.  His  applause  has  been  universally  sounded  in  this 
country.  Administration  applaud  him  for  his  moderation  and 
generosity ;  opposition  for  the  just  line  he  has  drawn,  and  all  men 
for  his  modesty  and  graceful  delivery.  His  enemies  are  silenced 
(for  even  he  has  his  enemies)  by  the  strongest  confutation  of  their 
charges  against  him,  of  illiberal  invective   against  the  people  of 

England  ; — by  his  manly  defence  of  his  country,  and  honorable 
approbation  of  its  opponents,  wherever  he  thought  them  justifiable. 
"I  was  in  the  House  on  the  debate.  It  was  remarkably 
crowded  with  members,  and  the  galleries  were  fdlcd  with  peers, 
and  persons  of  distinction.  "When  Mr.  C.  rose,  there  was  a  sol- 
emn silence.  He  faltered  a  little  at  first,  but  as  he  proceeded,  the 
cry  of  ^ Hear  him, ^  'Hear  him,''  animated  him  with  resolution. 
Flood,  the  Irish  orator,  sat  behind  me  :  he  asked,  '  Who  is  that? 
Avho  is  that  ? — a  young  speaker — whosoever  he  is  he  speaks  more 
eloquently  than  any  man  I  have  yet  heard  in  the  house.'  I  took 
great  pains  to  learn  people's  sentiments,  and  found  them  all  in  his 
favor.  Mr.  Garrick,  a  few  days  after,  in  a  dispute  on  the  subject, 
said,  *  he  never  saw^  human  nature  more  amiably  displayed,  than 
in  the  modest  address,  pathos  of  affection  for  his  country,  and 
graceful  gesture,  discovered  by  Mr.  Cruger  in  his  speech.'  I  am 
thus  particular,  because  you  must  be  curious  to  know  what  recep- 
tion the  first  American  member  met  with,  in  the  most  auo-ust  as- 
sembly  in  Europe.  My  heart  beat  high  w^ith  anxiety.  I  trem- 
bled when  he  rose,  with  the  most  awful  and  affecting  jealousy  for 
the  honor  of  my  country.  When  '  Hear  him,'  '  Hear  him,'  echoed 
through  the  House,  joy  rushed  through  every  vein,  and  I  seemed 
to  glory  in  being  a  New-Yorker." 

FROM  HENRY  CRUGER,  JUNIOR. 

London,  2d  May,  1775. 
My  dear  Sir  : 

I  lately  had  the  pleasure  of  writing  you  a  long  letter,  in  which 


36  T  H  li      L  I  F  E      O  F 

I  owncil  the  receipt  of  yours  of  1st,  14th,  and  iSth  February. 
The  hist  packet  favored  me  with  another  obhging  testimony  of 
your  remembrance  and  regard.  Continue,  my  dear  kinsman,  con- 
tinue writing  to  me ;  thougli  hurry  in  business  will  not  permit  me 
to  do  so  fully  and  frequently  to  you.  Your  early  advices  may  be 
of  great  importance  and  benefit  to  us  both  :  mine  to  you  can  be  of 
but  litlk'  consequence  to  either.  It  will  be  no  difficulty  for  Vardill 
and  me  unitedly  to  get  for  you  the  reversion  in  the  admiralty.  Be 
sure  to  send  us  the  first  accounts  of  its  vacancy ;  at  present,  our 
minds  are  so  big  with  the  mighty  expectation  of  approaching 
events,  we  can  talk  of  nothing  else  ;  our  faculties  seem  benumbed 
alternately  by  hope  and  fear.     You  shall  not  be  neglected. 

The  opposition  in  the  House  of  Commons  flatter  themselves 
that  the  confusion  in  7/o?/r  country  will  overthrow  the  ministry  in 
tliis.  But,  my  Peter !  you  and  my  countrymen  may  believe  me, 
let  them  come  in  when  they  will,  they  must  adopt,  and  they  know 
it,  nearly  the  same  measures  with  America  that  have  been  pursued 
]jy  the  present  administration,  or  they  cannot  hold  their  places  a 
single  session.  To  get  in  is  what  we  all  want,  and  patriots  in  one 
station  are  great  tyrants  in  another.  America  has  long  been  made 
a  cat's  paw ;  on  the  ground  oUheir  calamity,  we  fight  our  ambitious 
quarrels.  And,  let  who  will  gain  the  victory,  whether  the  ins  or 
the  outs,  New-York  will  not  be  sixpence  the  gainer.  These  are 
recent  discoveries,  which  nothing  but  experience  could  afford 
mc. 

Of  politics,  I  hate  any  longer  to  write;  we  all  wish  the  Amer- 
ican disputes  were  amicably  terminated.  No  minister  would  ever 
touch  you  again  :  they  ardently  wish  to  be  out  of  this  scrape  ;  but 
will  with  fire  and  sword  go  through  with  it.  The  people  here 
think  the  Americans  (especially  the  Congress)  have  treated  Eng- 
land with  much  indignity,  and  ill  usage;  it  makes  them  angry. 

My  health  is  but  so  so.  I  long  to  get  into  the  country,  but  my 
Bristol  friends  entreat  me  7wt  to  quit  the  ground  till  Parliament  is 
prorogued  ;  ergo  there  are  but  scanty  hopes  of  our  meeting  in  New- 
Vork  th  is  summer.  All  through  the  winter,  I  have  been  gloriously 
worked— and  often  ill— now  and  then  wished  to  make  my  exit  for 
the  glory  of  having  inscribed  on  my  tomb—"  duke  et  decorum  est, 
pro  palria  mori^ 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  37 

Love  to  my  clear  Betsey,  and  the  little  ones,  Compliments  to 
your  worthy  family  and  all  friends.  I  remain,  with  much  sincere 
regard,  dear  sir. 

Your  aflfectionatc 

H.  CuUGER. 

TO  COL.  JOHN  MAUNSELL. 

Mw-York,  7th  May,  1775. 
My  dear  Sir  : 

Since  you  sailed,  nothing  material  has  happened  here,  except 
the  arrival  of  the  delegates  from  the  eastward,  on  their  way  to 
Philadelphia.  High  honors  were  paid  to  them,  on  their  entrance, 
and  during  their  stay  here.  They  have  represented  the  unhappy 
affair  in  the  Massachusetts,  in  a  way  most  unfavorable  to  the  king's 
army,  charging  the  soldiery  with  the  most  unexampled  cruelties. 
In  a  letter  from  Gen.  Gage  to  the  Lieut.  Governor,  a  representation 
totally  opposite  to  it  is  given.  Prudence  restrains  one  from  giving 
any  opinion  on  the  fact,  but  the  melancholy  consequences  are  but 
too  obvious. 

In  my  apprehension,  the  whole  dispute  between  the  mother  coun- 
try and  us  is  now  reducible  to  two  points.  From  the  favorable 
declarations  which,  it  is  said,  have  been  lately  received  from  Lord 
Dartmouth,  a  nobleman  who  has  the  character  of  possessing  many 
valuable  qualities,  it  seems  evident  that  the  article  of  Parliamentary 
taxation  is  intended  to  be  given  up.  The  only  question  is,  shall  it 
be  necessary  for  the  colonies  previously  to  stipulate  for  a  specific 
sum  disposable  by  Parliament,  either  towards  an  alleviation  of  the 
national  debt  or  the  general  contingent  expense  of  the  empire,  or 
shall  this  be  left  at  large,  upon  the  assurance  of  the  colonics  of 
their  readiness  to  make  adequate  supplies,  upon  emergencies  occa- 
sionally, and  pro  re  nata  ?  This  is  the  first  ground  of  dispute ;  the 
second  is,  the  acts  relating  to  the  Massachusetts  Bay. 

Permit  me  to  give  you  the  following  unconnected  thoughts  on 
this  subject.  The  article  of  right  is  almost  out  of  the  question,  it 
turns  altogether  upon  general  expedience,  and  jwlicy ;  for  refined 
principles  of  government,  applied  to  a  case  so  peculiar,  can  have 
very  little  weight,  when  there  is  no  common  umpire  to  appeal  to, 
when  those  who  are  to  judge  on  both  sides  are  parties,  and  when 


38  THELIFEOF 

those  parties  are  also  the  multitude.  The  opinion  of  the  colonies 
is  fixed.  There  are  respectable  individuals  who  think  we  ought  to 
stipulate  for  a  perpetual  revenue,  but  the  general  current  is  the 
other  way — and  I  think  the  better  opinion  is,  that  when  the  colo- 
nies are  restored  to  their  wonted  good  humor,  they  will  occasionally 
contribute  more  largely  than  they  would  now  (should  they  be 
compelled)  stipulate  for.  It  appears  to  me,  therefore,  that  this 
I  unhappy  contest,  so  serious  in  its  consequences,  is  maintained  upon 
no  better  ground  than  a  mere  chimera, — vox  et  prculerea  nihil. 

With  respect  to  the  Massachusetts  Bay :  theirs  is  considered 
as  a  common  cause,  and  therefore  no  peace  can  be  established,  till 
the  acts  relative  to  them  are  repealed ;  unless  Parliament  would 
hold  out  such  a  constitution  for  the  colonies  as  they  should  in  gen- 
eral think  proper  to  adopt,  and  then,  although  it  should  fall  short 
of  some  of  their  old  charter  privileges,  a  restoration  of  t/iem  would 
perhaps  not  be  insisted  on.  Upon  the  whole,  there  are  doubtless 
errors  on  both  sides;  but  a  wise  government  will  disarm  itself  of 
^  resentment  and  recrimination.  A  conflict  between  the  different 
members  of  the  same  body  politic,  is  too  serious  to  be  upheld  for 
the  sake  of  a  punctilio.  Vv'hat  good  consequences  will  arise  to  the 
mother  country  even  should  her  arms  prove  successful  ?  what  mise- 
ries may  follow  the  w^ant  of  success  on  the  part  of  Great  Britain  in 
this  contest,  and  what  are  the  degrees  of  probability  in  favor  of 
either  event  ?  are  questions  which  require  very  serious  considera- 
tion. If  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  we  do  not  sufficiently  weigh 
them,  let  not  administration  pursue  the  same  error. 

My  mind  is  distressed  with  the  gloomy  prospect  of  my  country. 
Such  a  spirit  of  anarchy  and  disregard  of  the  powers  of  government 
may  prevail,  as  may  prevent  us  from  soon  returning  to  the  old 
channel,  and  that  affection  which  is  the  bond  of  our  common  union 
with  the  mother  country,  may  perhaps  forever  be  destroyed.  I 
forbear  pursuing  this  subject,  but  till  the  stamp  act,  we  knew  not 
what  a  contempt  of  government,  or  the  appearance  of  a  want  of 
attachment  to  the  parent  state,  was.  That  certainly  was  a  meri- 
torious opposition,  and  if  the  present  heats  are  condemned,  let  it 
be  remembered,  that  the  petitions  of  the  colonies  to  Parliament 
since  that  period  have  been  treated  in  a  manner  which  they  think 
affords  no  hope  from  such  a  constitutional  mode  of  application  for 
redress. 


PETER      VAN      S  C  II  A  A  C  K  .  39 

The  Congress  will  meet  under  the  influence  of  a  warm  resent- 
ment, lor  the  severities  committed  against  their  brethren  in  the  east- 
ern colonies;  what  line  ol"  conckict  they  will  pursue,  is  not 
conjectured  upon  any  rational  foundation ;  but  whatever  they 
recommend,  will  have  the  force  of  more  than  law. 

You  will  see  the  reception  which  has  been  given  to  the  resolu- 
tion of  the  House  of  Commons  of  the  20th  February,  by  the 
General  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania.  To  be  plain,  people  suspect 
there  is  some  latent  mischief  in  every  thing  proposed  by  adminis- 
tration. Timeo  Danaos  et  donaferentes.  In  the  present  case,  all 
is  submitted  to  the  Congress. 

The  tide  of  popularity  runs  strong  against  the  proceedings  of 
our  house  of  Assembly,  for  their  singularity.  I  flatter  myself, 
however,  they  will  be  productive  of  good  as  they  have  pursued 
exactly  the  mode  in  which  ministry  declared  they  would  treat 
with  us.  Should  their  petitions  be  disregarded  at  home,  the  popu- 
lar censure  will  be  increased.  But,  w^hatever  benefits  arise  from 
them,  will,  I  hope,  be  general ;  for  w^e  cannot,  people  will  not, 
receive  partial  favors  in  this  time  of  general  calamity.  Our 
Assembly,  I  am  confident,  had  no  such  aim,  and  they  generously 
meant,  by  their  proceedings,  to  subserve  the  common  cause. 


FROM   COL.   JOHN  MAUNSELL. 

London,  bth  July,  1775. 
Many  thanks,  dear  sir,  for  your  friendly  and  very  sensible 
letter  of  the  7th  May.  It  contained  the  language  of  a  real  patriot, 
and  a  friend  of  both  countries.  So  much  pleased  was  I  with  it, 
that  I  laid  it  before  several  great  personages  here,  who,  while  they 
admired  your  style,  and  your  feelings,  seemed  to  reprobate  your 
doctrine.  The  language,  my  friend,  of  a  Cicero,  can  neither  alter 
the  measures  adopted  by  government,  at  this  critical  time,  nor  the 
fixed  opinions  of  the  many,  on  the  supremacy  of  this  country  over 
its  external  dominions,  which  it  has  so  long  uncontrovertedly  exer- 
cised. Amongst  those  with  whom  I  conversed,  I  never  discovered 
the  least  idea  of  either  enslaving  the  colonies,  or  wishing  to  see 
the  colonists  in  a  worse  state  than  the  subjects  of  the  crown  residing 
in  this  Island. 


40  THELIFEOF 

You  will  naturally  expect  that  I  should  say  something  of  the 
intentions  of  Great  Britain  on  the  present  unhappy  dispute;  to  be 
honest,  I  know  not  what  is  the  plan  of  operations  relative  to 
America ;  but  this  I  can  assure,  that  the  voice  of  the  multitude  is 
for  spirited  measures. 

Before  my  arrival,  the  troops  had  sailed  for  their  destination, 
the  Parliament  prorogued,  addressing  his  Majesty,  (before  their 
departure,)  by  their  speaker,  in  a  very  warm  and  spirited  manner, 
on  the  American  topic.  You  must  know  that  the  ministers  are 
but  the  executive  powers  of  the  national  senate ;  any  retrograde 
step  on  their  part  would  be  destructive  to  them  ;  they  must  follow 
the  dictates  of  Parliament.  Under  this  circumstance,  what  can  a 
few  men  do  ?  The  union  and  operation  of  the  colonists,  are  well 
known  here,  from  your  public  prints,  and  are  authenticated  from 
various  incidents.  Any  report  now  on  American  affairs,  is  of  little 
avail.  The  die  is  cast. 
P  Such  unhappy  accounts  daily  arrive  from  your  side  the  Atlantic, 
as  really  injure  the  colonists,  in  the  eyes  of  even  moderate  men.  The 
midnight  attack  on  Dr.  Cooper  is  laid  before  the  public  in 
highly  finished  colors ; — Rivington's,  in  the  same  manner  ;* 
and  the  necessary  flight  of  Chandler,  Cook,  Kerney  and  others, 
compose  part  of  the  catalogue ;  painful  stories  to  relate,  when  con- 
trasted with  the  freedom  of  speech  in  this  kingdom.  The  advocates 
for  America  here,  speak  their  mind  without  fear — even  collections 
are  made  for  a  people  fighting  against  their  sons. 

It  is  a  duty  I  owe  the  country  I  have  voluntarily  chosen  for  my 
residence,  to  relate  freely  what  I  hear  every  day  that  nearly  con- 
cerns it.  What  I  relate  to  you,  depend  on  it,  is  what  I  hear.  I 
shall  naught  extenuate.  Happy  had  it  been  for  both  countries,  if 
undisguised  truths  had  been  told  on  both  sides  the  Atlantic.  On 
■this  side,  there  area  set  of  men  who  do  not  oppose  government  on 
any  principle,  and  would  deluge  both  countries  in  blood,  for  the 
purpose  of  gratifying  their  private  purposes.  How  painful  is  it  to 
a  benevolent  heart,  to  find  a  generous  people  impelled  on  by  false 
reports.     It  is  confidently  said,  that  a  native  of  New-York,  who 


*  For  an  account  of  the  assault  on  Rivington's  printing  office,  see  Sparks' 
Life  of  Gouvcrnour  Morris,  Vol.  I.  p.  66. 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  41 

has  resided  in  this  city  some  time  past,  made  it  his  business  to  pick 
up  paraf^raphs  of  letters  from  New-York,  and,  mutilating  them,  sent 
them  back,  to  serve  the  purpose  of  local  politics,  and  injure  the 
re])utation  of  respectable  men.     Shameful  office  ! 

We  see,  in  a  Connecticut  paper.  General  Gage's  letter  to  Gov- 
ernor Trumbull — a  fair  opening  to  settle  the  present  dispute  by 
negotiation.  I  understand  it  is  lost — unhappy  event.  Why  will 
not  the  friends  to  humanity,  and  lovers  of  their  country,  exert 
themselves,  in  the  noble  work  of  healing  the  \vound  by  palliatives 
before  it  becomes  incurable.  Depend  on  it,  though  the  die  is  cast  in 
regard  to  the  destination  of  the  troops,  Britain  will  with  open  arms 
receive  the  Americans,  on  equal  and  friendly  ground.  She  will 
not  be  outdone  in  generosity.  Generous  terms  will  be  granted, 
when  demanded  constitutionally.  The  worn  out  story  of  petitions 
being  neglected,  has  produced  the  unhappy  alternative  of  force. 
Let  the  Congress,  on  the  part  of  the  people,  try  the  effect  of  a 
dutiful  petition. 

I  wish  not  to  see  America  lose  a  particle  of  its  right,  but  I 
^vish  to  see  that  right  supported  with  temper,  and,  you  may  depend 
on  it,  they  \v\\\  have  every  thing  their  sovereign  can  give,  consis- 
tent with  his  dignity  and  the  constitution.  When  this  unnatural 
dispute  is  ended,  (for  it  must  have  an  end,)  if  the  day  is  protracted 
and  unhappy  consequences  attend  it,  the  first  cause  of  quarrel 
will  be  entirely  forgotten  on  both  sides,  and  peace  restored  ade- 
quate to  the  success  of  the  victorious.  Before  that  season  is  lost, 
let  not  the  original  demand  be  put  into  so  precarious  a  situation. 
The  event  of  war  is  uncertain.  I  will  give  the  inhabitants  of 
Massachusetts  Bay  credit  for  every  advantage  they  possess,  as  to 
bravery,  &c.,  &c.  Should  brave  men  be  lost,  when  what  they 
contend  for  can  be  obtained  otherwise,  and  when  affection  can  be 
preserved  betweeen  the  parent  and  her  children  ? 

The  conciliatory  resolution  of  Lord  North  opens  a  ground  for 
treaty.  This  motion  sets  aside  all  objections  to  parliamentary  tax- 
ation. You  know  many  of  the  colony  legislatures  confessed  a 
willingness  to  grant,  by  W' ay  of  requisition,  supplies  for  the  defence 
of  the  British  empire  ;  I  understand  this  motion  was  made  to  settle 
the  dispute  on  that  principle.  Be  assured,  it  is  not  the  quantum 
Great  Britain  contends  for.     Surely,  each  colony  must  be  the  most 

6 


42  THELIFEOF 

competent  judge  of  its  own  internal  abilities.  Had  Great  Britain 
reserved  to  herself  the  right  of  determining  the  proportion  in  which 
they  should  severally  contribute,  it  must  have  been  liable  to  the 
strongest  objections.  She  might  undesignedly  be  guilty  of  an  une- 
qual distribution  of  the  quotas ;  but  enough  on  the  merits  of  the 
dispute. 

I  have  not  considered  it  well  enough,  to  enlarge  more  on  this 
interesting  subject ;  but  this  is  the  language  here,  and  you  must 
take  notice,  my  letter  is  intended  to  convey  only  the  talk  of  this 
city.  You  may  depend  on  it,  that  there  is  the  greatest  unanimity 
amongst  all  ranks  of  people.  England  was  never  in  a  more  flour- 
ishing state — new  doors  opened  to  commerce ;  manufacturers  fully 
employed  ;  stocks  as  high  as  before  the  dispute. 

We  continually  hear  of  unkind  treatment  given  to  many  re- 
spectable inhabitants,  for  their  political  opinions.  This  gives  me 
much  pain ;  it  can  never  settle  the  dispute,  but  injure  the  reputation 
of  those  who  are  guilty  of  it.  I  wish  it  could  be  put  an  end  to. 
It  certainly  will  irritate  the  people  here  against  the  Americans. 

On  the  whole,  be  assured  America  has  not  a  better  friend  than 
I  am  to  it.  So  dangerous  is  it  to  give  an  opinion  publicly  here, 
that  I  say  little,  for  fear  my  words  may  be  misconstrued.  What  I 
do  say,  is  on  the  side  of  America,  as  consistently  as  I  can  with  the 
nature  of  the  dispute. 

Harry  Cruger  is  at  my  side.  He  has  a  great  desire  to  pay 
New-York  a  visit,  but  that  is  impossible.  Affairs  here  are  so  cir- 
cumstanced that  he  cannot  stir.  Bristol  will  not  part  with  one  of 
its  representatives.  I  fear  years  must  roll  over  his  head,  before  he 
sees  that  place. 

Pray  excuse  incorrectnesses  in  this  letter.  The  unhappy  situa- 
tion of  American  affairs  so  embarrasses  my  mind,  that  I  really  am 
unfit  to  take  pen  in  hand.  Pray  desire  Mrs.  Maunsell  to  direct  to 
me  at  Mr.  Augustine  Mead's,  merchant.  No.  6,  New  Buildings, 
Coleman-street,  London.  I  hope  to  hear  from  you,  directed  to 
that  place.  Adieu,  my  dear  sir  ;  may  the  olive  once  more  spread 
its  branches  over  your  western  world,  is  in  the  sincere  wish  of, 

Dear  sir,  sincerely  yours, 

JoHxN  Maunsell. 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  43 


FROM  HENRY  CRUGER,   JUNIOR. 

Bristol,  17th  June,  1775. 
Dear  Sir  : 

Your  afijreeable  favor  of  3d  May,  Colonel  Maunsell  delivered  to 
me.  I  am  deeply  afflicted  by  the  troubles,  and  impending  ruin  of 
my  native  country.  I  contend  day  and  night  for  the  propriety  and 
virtue  of  your  conduct.  My  behavior  everywhere  evinces  that 
nothing  on  earth  is,  or  ought  to  be,  so  dear  to  us  as  our  native 
country.  In  my  public  speeches,  I  have  affected  the  greatest  mod- 
eration, in  order  to  secure  the  attention  of  the  audience ;  nothing 
else  would,  after  the  publication  of  a  letter  in  the  Philadelphia 
paper  last  winter,  which  you  may  remember  was  ascribed  to  me. 

You  tell  me  I  do  not  WTite  on  the  subject  of  public  matters  so 
freely  now,  as  I  did  before  I  w^as  a  senator.  True,  but  my  reserve 
doth  not  proceed  from  my  being  a  member  of  Parliament.  Letters 
are  often  opened  by  rascals ;  this  is  one  check.  The  disagreeable- 
ness  of  the  subject  is  another ;  its  being  worn  out,  is  a  third.  My 
dear  sir,  you  may  believe  me  when  I  assure  you,  that  the  severe 
measures  resolved  on  by  the  legislature  of  this  country  made  my 
very  soul  yearn.  I  have  talked,  and  reasoned,  and  prayed — 
prophesied,  deprecated,  and  rued  ;  but  all  to  no  purpose.  The  an- 
swer always  was,  that  England  would  neither  be  intimidated  by, 
nor  receive  laws  from  America ;  that  if  you  were  the  subjects  of 
England,  and  upon  every  danger  expected  protection,  you  ought  to 
be  subordinate  to  her  laws.  After  saying  all  that  could  be  said 
upon  the  subject,  the  dispute  remains  just  where  it  did. 

My  partiality  to  my  native  country  is  too  conspicuous  upon  all 
occasions,  to  be  doubted  ;  but  lately  it  hath  discovered  itself  even 
in  violence.  I  shall  remain,  to  my  dying  day,  America's  fast  and 
unalterable  friend.  I  begrudge  no  pains  nor  expense  to  serve  your 
cause,  and  if  my  life  was  to  be  laid  down  to  preserve  your  rights 
and  liberties,  I  should  not  think  the  purchase  too  dear. 

I  would  give  a  great  deal  just  now  to  be  in  the  secrets  of  the 
privy  council,  to  know  how  the  last  unfavorable  accounts  from 
Boston  operate ;  but  that  knowledge  is  communicated  only  to  the 
particular  connections  of  the  ministry;  with  whom,  God  be  praised, 
I  hold  not  the  least  intercourse.    During  the  sessions  of  Parliament, 


44  THELIFEOF 

I  now  and  then  contrived  to  ^et  amongst  some  of  them,  in  hopes 
of  at  length  being  able,  by  repeated  conversations,  to  abate  their 
rigor ;  but  as  it  proved  all  in  vain,  I  have  long  since  washed  my 
hands  from  all  manner  of  correspondence  with  them;  of  course 
remain  an  utter  stranger  to  all  their  future  schemes. 

I  am  momently  expecting  the  arrival  of  my  father.  His 
presence  here  will  yield  me  infinite  happiness ;  and  every  thing  that 
a  son  can  or  ought  to  do,  to  make  a  father  comfortable,  he  will  be 
sure  to  experience  from  my  warm  affection.  Would  to  Heaven  all 
my  friends  and  connections  had  come  with  him,  for  now  it  will 
be  many  years  before  I  can  possibly  come  among  them. 

My  debts  in  your  city  are  immense.  Do,  my  dear  kinsman, 
exert  yourself  to  secure  what  you  can  for  me.  The  beneficial 
services  I  have  rendered  my  country,  and  my  constant  attention  to 
its  welfare,  require  the  strictest  justice  at  the  hands  of  my  country- 
men. Inclosed  is  a  sketch  of  my  debtors'  names  for  your  govern- 
ment. Isaac  Sears  has  wrote  us,  that  he  will  not  remit  any  more 
until  the  disturbances  are  at  an  end.     Is  this  justice.  Heaven  ! 

My  love  to  my  dear  sister  and  your  little  ones ;  and  believe  me 
as  sincere,  good  and  affectionate  a  friend  as  any  you  have  on  earth. 
May  God  bless  you ! 

Hen.  Cruger. 


FROM  HENRY   CRUGER,  JUNIOR. 

London,  2d  AugH,  1775. 
My  dear  Sir  : 

I  received  with  pleasure  your  last  of  16th  and  17th  June,  and 
gave  the  one  inclosed  to  V — 1.  For  a  fortnight  past  I  have  been 
ill,  but  am  getting  better. 

I  am  sorry  for  the  frenzy  of  my  countrymen.  To  wrest  and 
torture  the  only  construction  that  could  be  put  upon  my  letter  per 
Col.  Skene  into  any  sense  inimical  to  the  liberties  of  America,  is 
strange  indeed !  True,  it  said  u\?iny  fulsome,  perhaps  ironical,  things 
in  favor  of  a  vain,  weak  man,  who,  out  of  his  own  mouth,  requested 
me  to  write  the  nonsense  I  did.  He  told  me  it  would  give  him  con- 
sequence in  New-York  ;  and,  without  once  reflecting  how  far  he  was 
a  friend  or  a  foe  to  any  particular  cause,  I  readily  obliged  him. 


P  E  T  E  R      V  A  N      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  45 

No,  no,  my  kinsman  !  I  am  not  America's  enemy,  or  should 
not  moan  as  I  do,  for  the  calamities  that  over  her  head  are  yet 
impending.  They  only  are  your  greatest  enemies  who  continue  to 
deceive  you  ;  who,  in  spite  of  their  own  internal  conviction,  per- 
sist in  assuring  you  the  English  nation  is  on  your  side.  In  short, 
unless  peace  be  made,  all  America,  I  dread,  will  next  year  wofully 
experience  the  most  damning  proofs  of  their  mistake.  A  co?itrary 
account  might  he  more  flatter  in  g  and  pleasing  ;  but  I  choose  rather 
to  give  you  the  truths  though  the  warm  zealots  in  the  cause  of 
liberty  it  offend.*  On  this  solemn  occasion,  I  speak  fact  for  the 
best.  To  my  inmost  bosom  I  appeal,  and  safely  say,  "  hie  murus 
aheneus  esto — nil  con  scire  sibi,  nvlla  pallescere  culpa." 

I  am  extremely  sorry  for  the  illness  of  poor  Cornelius.  I  hope 
he  may  recover.  He  is  too  fine  a  boy  to  lose.  How  is  my  favorite 
and  namesake  honest  Hal  ?  I  long  to  send  them  some  fresh 
memorial  of  my  love.  As  that  is  prohibited,  they  must  for  the 
present  be  content  in  knowing  they  possess  it  most  amply,  and  so 
does  my  dearest  sister  Betsey.  My  best  respects  and  love  attend 
all  your  worthy  family  up  the  North  River.     Adieu ! 

Yours,  affectionately,  H.  C. 


FROM  REV.   JOHN  VARDILL. 

London,  June  20,  1775. 
My  dear  Sir  : 

Your  letters  of  the  4th  and  6th  of  May,  are  sad  pictures  of  the 
miserable  state  of  my  native  country.  I  sympathize  with  you  in 
your  sorrow,  and  weep  with  you  over  the  calamities  of  civil  w^ar. 

What  is  the  method  to  close  the  door  of  contention  1  This  is 
the  question  which  every  man  asks  of  his  neighbors. 

Will  the  Americans  be  satisfied  with  a  suspension  of  the  exer- 
cise of  taxation  1  Will  they  consent  to  the  laws  of  trade,  as  enacted 
hy  a  competent  authority  in  the  British  legislature  ?  Would  they 
wish  to  be  governed  by  their  Colonial  Assemblies  7  or  by  a  Gen- 

*  N.  B.  1  do  not  mean  to  influence  the  conduct  of  my  countrymen — only 
to  give  you  the  best  information.  This  surely  is  inoffensive.  I  think  it  right 
you  should  knoio  that  the  people  here  do  not  so  sanguinely  co-operate  with 
you  as  you  could  wish. 


46  THELIFEOF 


1 


eral  Congress  ?  In  what  part  of  the  state,  is  the  power  of  com- 
pelhng  to  their  duty  refractory  and  delinquent  colonies  to  be 
vested  ?  If  you  prefer  the  mode  of  requisition,  is  the  sum,  and  the 
appropriation  of  it,  to  be  left  to  the  King  ?  or  to  your  own  Assem- 
blies 7  or  to  Parliament  ?  What  degree  of  subordination  do  you 
think  your  duty  ?  or  do  you  claim  to  stand  in  the  same  relation  to 
the  Kino-,  as  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain  itself? 

These  are  difficulties  with  me,  which  you  can  best  answer  in 
America.  Every  man  who  arrives  from  the  colonies  has  a  different 
plan,  which  alone  can  succeed. 

The  late  intelligence  from  America  has  not,  as  far  as  I  can 
learn,  altered  the  plan  of  Government.  The  nation  will  not  suffer 
a  man  to  continue  minister  who  falters ;  the  moment  he  retreats,  he 
falls. 

I  cannot  find  a  man  who  wishes  to  see  you  enslaved,  to  con- 
tribute more  money,  or  have  less  liberties  than  Englishmen.  All 
they  wish,  is,  that  you  will  advance  to  a  friendly  settlement,  and 
consent  to  the  operation  of  that  supreme  power,  which  necessity 
makes  lawful. 

May  Heaven  avert  a  contest,  which  can  produce  good  to  nei- 
ther of  the  parties,  and  which  the  highest  human  wisdom  seems 
incapable  of  settling  to  the  content  and  satisfaction  of  both 
countries. 

From  the  accounts  which  we  received  last  from  America,  it 
appeared  that  you  are  all  united  in  the  dispute,  and  that  military 
preparations  were  everywhere  forming.  This  looks  as  if  you 
intended  to  try  your  strength  with  Great  Britain.  If  you  depend 
much  on  assistance  from  this  country,  or  any  foreign  powers,  you 
will  be  deceived.  It  has  been  the  interest  of  party,  to  push  matters 
against  the  ministry,  in  hopes  that  the  difficulty  of  the  case  would 
oblige  them  to  resign.  The  common  danger  will  force  both  into 
union.  France  and  Spain  are  disposed  to  lend  assistance  to  Great 
Britain,  and  not  to  you.  This  last,  I  have  the  most  authentic 
intelligence  of. 

But  let  me  drop  the  subject,  which  is  a  source  of  too  much 
melancholy.  I  fear  it  will  be  long  ere  peace  is  restored  to  your 
once  happy  country.  It  will  be  long  ere  you  and  I  renew  those 
social  and  temperate  pleasures,  which  we  once  enjoyed  together. 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  47 

Wherever  you  arc,  may  content  smooth  your  pillow,  and  shed 
cheerfulness  around  your  board,  and  may  you  never  forget 

Your  alfectionate  friend, 

John  Vardill. 

This  correspondence  shows  very  conclusively,  that  Mr.  Van 
Schaack  condemned  those  measures  of  the  British  government, 
which  led  to  the  Revolution. 

The  committee  of  fifty-one,  as  hasbeenremarked,  was  dissolved 
in  November,  1774.  It  was  succeeded  by  a  committee  of  sixty 
persons,  chosen  by  the  "  freeholders  and  freemen"  of  the  city  of 
New-York,  at  a  public  meeting  held  at  the  City  Hall  on  the  twenty- 
second  day  of  November,  and  styled  "The  Committee  for  carrying 
into  execution  the  association  entered  into  by  the  Continental  Con- 
gress." Mr.  Van  Schaack  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  committee 
of  sixty  also.  What  part  he  took  in  the  proceedings  of  the  latter 
committee  the  author  is  uninformed,  and  no  record  appears  to  have 
been  kept  of  their  doings.  He  is  known  to  have  been  friendly  to 
the  measures  of  non-importation,  and  non-consumption,  and  he  was 
in  favor  of  all  peaceful  remedies  to  procure  a  redress  of  grievances. 


48  THELIFEOF 


CHAPTER    III. 

(/  On  the  thirteenth  of  May,  1775,  Mr.  Van  Schaack  parted  with 
his  respected  father-in-law,  who  embarked,  at  this  time,  at  New- 
York  for  England,  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  some  relief,  at  the 
watering  places  in  that  country,  from  a  painful  disease  w^hich 
threatened  his  life,  and  rendered  it  improbable  that  he  would  ever 
rejoin  his  kindred  and  friends  in  America.* 
In  the  course  of  about  four  years  previous  to  this  date,  the  sub- 
f  ject  of  this  sketch  had  been  deprived,  by  death,  of  four  children, 
who  died  in  their  infancy.  In  July  of  this  year,  his  oldest  son, 
Cornelius,  a  remarkably  promising  child  in  his  ninth  year,  died  at 
Kinderhook,  whither  he  had  been  taken  in  May  previous ;  and 
while  the  afflicted  parents  w^ere  daily  expecting  their  youngest 
child  with  its  nurse  from  New-York,  the  sloop  arrived,  with  the 
melancholy  tidings  of  his  death  two  days  after  the  interment  of  the 
other.  The  following  reflections  w^ere  suggested  to  his  mind  on 
this  occasion. 

"  July,  1775.  Upon  the  death  of  two  of  my  children  within  a 
few  days  of  each  other." 

"  There  never  was  any  system  since  the  creation,  which  affords 
any  ground  of  consolation  under  the  distresses  of  life,  except  the 
Christian  religion.  By  this,  the  doctrine  of  a  future  state  is  clearly 
revealed,  and  as  we  may  deduce  from  natural  religion,  that  the 
justice  and  mercy  of  God  will  adjust  all  the  seeming  inequalities 
of  his  providence ;  so  we  are  confirmed  in  it,  by  revelation.  From 
hence  we  learn  this  consoling  truth,  that  this  life  is  but  a  state  of 
probation,  in  which  we  have  it  in  our  power  to  obtain  the  assist- 

♦  Mr.  Cruger  died  at  Bristol,  5th  February,  17S0  j  and  his  body  was  interred 
in  the  cathedral  in  that  city. 


PETER      VAN     SC  II  AACK.  49 

ancc  of  God's  Holy  Spirit,  whereby  we  may  secure  to  ourselves 
the  benefit  of  the  redemption  of  Jesus  Christ,  in  a  happy  immortality. 

"  A  due  consideration  of  the  transitory  nature  of  this  life,  and  of 
the  importance  of  eternity,  should  prevent  us  from  overvaluing  the 
one,  or  neglecting  the  other.  INlere  reflection  perhaps  would  not 
give  these  sentiments  their  due  impression,  but  in  the  hour  of  dis- 
tress, upon  the  loss  of  a  friend  we  love — upon  the  loss  of  the  child 
of  our  tenderest  affections  ! — they  will  not  fail  of  striking  the  mind 
with  the  utmost  force. 

"  There  cannot  be  a  stronger  internal  evidence  of  the  truth  of 
Christianity,  than  that  it  alone  affords  us  relief,  on  those  trying 
occasions  which  we  are  daily  subject  to.  Would  God  suffer  his 
creatures  to  be  distressed,  without  its  answering  any  good  purpose  ; 
or  without  its  bearing  any  relation  to  any  of  the  other  parts  of  the 
great  whole  over  which  his  providence  presides  ?  Without  the 
certainty  of  a  future  state,  we  should  be  unhappy  upon  every 
misfortune.  What  could  console  upon  the  dissolution  of  the  most 
endearing,  and  tenderest  connections  ?  Reason,  aided  by  the  most 
refined  philosophy,  in  vain  would  speak  peace  to  the  troubled 
breast.  Apathy  and  insensibihty  would  be  the  only  remedies  they 
could  prescribe. 

"  But  Christianity,  the  religion  of  Heaven,  arms  us  against  the 
terrors  of  death.  In  her  mild  eye,  it  is  but  a  transition  to  a  better 
state,  wherein  we  shall  be  released  from  the  present  vicissitudes  of 
fortune,  and  taste  the  purest  happiness. 

"  Shall  we  then  repine  at  the  well  prepared  death  of  those 
we  love  ?  God  forbid  !  Death  is  gain  ; — it  is  cruelty,  to  wish  to 
retain  them  in  a  state  where  bodily  pains  and  distress  of  mind  are 
the  certain  portions  of  the  most  fortunate.  But,  above  all,  the,  death 
of  a  child  should  rather  excite  gratitude  than  grief.  As  no  idea  of 
criminality  can  be  supposed  w^ithout  consciousness  of  error,  and  the 
possession  of  that  share  of  reason  which  can  distinguish  the  rules 
of  rioht  and  wronc:,  we  have  here  the  fullest  conviction  of  the  be- 
atitude  of  the  objects  of  our  love.  Instead  of  w^ading  through  the 
miseries  of  a  sinful  world,  without  danger  from  the  numerous  temp- 
tations which  surround  us,  they  obtain  the  signal  blessing  of  a  happy 
eternity,  without  undergoing  the  pains  and  distress  which  ever 
accompany  more  advanced  life. 

7 


50  THBLIFBOF 

"  If  these  reflections  satisfy  not  our  rainds  for  the  loss  we  sustain, 
let  us  count  this  perverseness  our  infirmity,  and  endeavor  to  bring 
ourselves  to  a  juster  way  of  thinking. 

"  Does  our  grief  proceed  from  regard  to  the  deceased  ?  it  is  mis- 
placed ;  and  we  are  assured  that  death  seals  their  happiness.  Does 
it  arise  from  reerret  on  our  own  account?  it  is  selfishness — it  is 
want  of  friendship  to  those  we  love — it  is  wishing  to  promote  our 
own  temporary  pleasure,  at  the  expense  of  pain  and  anxiety  in  the 
objects  of  our  love  j  perhaps  to  the  endangering  their  eternal 
happiness. 

"  The  benefits  to  ourselves,  too,  of  such  events,  if  well  improved, 
are  great ;  they  will  fix  the  attention  upon  the  most  important  of 
all  considerations ;  they  will  lead  the  mind  to  an  enlarged  consider- 
ation of  the  amazing  dispensations  of  Divine  Providence.  Let  us 
embrace  the  occasions,  therefore,  as  friendly  admonitions  of  God  to 
excite  us  to  our  duty  ;  let  us  improve  them  as  the  strongest  calls 
of  divine  goodness  to  warn  us  against  persevering  in  error. 

"  Let  us  acquire  a  thorough  conviction  of  the  superintending 
providence  of  God ;  let  us  be  assured  that  his  dispensations  are 
directed  solely  for  our  ultimate  good  ;  duty  and  regard  for  our  ovm 
welfare,  rightly  understood,  will  then  both  concur  in  us  a  perfect 
resignation  to  every  calamity ;  we  shall  receive  the  friendly  stroke 
as  the  chastisement  of  love,  and  we  shall  attain  an  affiance  in 
God  which  will  afford  us  that  contentment  and  peace  of  mind, 
which  the  world  can  neither  give  nor  take  away. 

"  It  should  be  the  subject  of  every  day's  reflection,  how  weak,  or 
how  impious  it  is  to  repine  at  the  events  of  life.  On  such  occasions, 
the  following  topics  will,  if  properly  considered,  alTord  us  relief.  That 
the  Almighty  governs  the  affairs  of  the  world  by  his  superintending 
providence — that  as  he  is  a  God  of  unerring  wisdom,  so  his  goodness 
extends  to  all  the  children  of  men.  That  with  wisdom  to  see,  with 
goodness  to  direct,  and  power  to  execute  whatever  is  best,  we  may 
safely  rely  that  whatever  is,  is  right,  relatively  to  the  whole.  That 
we  are  incompetent  judges  of  the  ways  of  Providence  ;  not  seeing 
the  whole  chain  of  things,  we  mistake  good  for  evil,  and  evil  for 
good  'y — the  result  of  all  which  w^ill  be,  that  though  we  cannot  un- 
riddle, we  shall  learn  to  trust. 

"  But  if  this  indulgence  of  our  grief  is  highly  blameworthy,  an 


PETER     VAN      SCHAACK.  51 

attempt  to  (lro\vn  It  in  dlssipalion,  Is  still  more  criminal.  The  unbe- 
liever, whose  views  are  bounded  by  this  precarious  life,  may  have 
recourse  to  it  to  banish  reflection,  in  order  to  avert  his  present  misery  ; 
but  it  is  the  glorious  prerogative  of  Christianity,  that  the  more  we 
exercise  our  reflection,  and  the  more  intensely  we  employ  our 
minds,  so  much  the  more  ample  shall  we  fmd  that  source  of  conso- 
lation to  be  which  it  affords.  Can  a  rational  mind,  then,  hesitate 
about  the  choice  ? 

"  Upon  the  whole,  as  prayer  is  the  means  by  which  we  are  di- 
rected, by  the  words  of  inspiration,  to  apply  in  all  our  wants,  so 
let  us  on  these  occasions  devoutly  implore  of  Almighty  God, 
through  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ,  for  such  divine  aids  as  will  en- 
able us  to  sustain  these  trying  visitations  with  a  humble  and  sub- 
missive resignation  to  all  the  dispensations  of  Providence  ;  and  let 
us  embrace  these  friendly  calls,  and  improve  them  to  the  edification 
of  our  minds,  and  the  due  regulation  of  our  passions  and  affec- 
tions." 

In  May  of  this  year,  Mr.  Van  Schaack  removed  his  family  to 
Kinderhook;  and  he  did  not  afterwards  return  to  the  city  to  reside.^ 
The  ill  health  of  some  of  his  family  w^as  the  immediate  cause  oi 
his  going  into  the  country  at  this  time.     His  eldest  child  (whos( 
subsequent  death  has  been  mentioned)  was  alarmingly  indisposed.j 
Mrs.  Van  Schaack's  health  was  but  indifferent,  and  her  feehngsl 
had  been  recently  severely  tried  by  the  solemn  parting  with  her  father,^ 
whom  she  never  afterwards  saw ;  and  his  ow^n  health  and  impaired 
vision  required  relaxation.     In  connection  with  these  circumstances, 
also,  it  is  not   improbable  that  the  threatening  aspect  of  public i 
affairs,  and  which  the  recent  shedding  of  American  blood  at  Lex- 
ino"ton  had  rendered  more  alarming,  may  have  had  its  influence  ony 
his  sensitive  mind.     But  if  public  considerations  did  not  affect  hij 
removal  to  the  country,  the  situation  of  the  city  of  New-York  sooi 
became  such  as  to  render  a  return  to  it  not  very  desirable.* 

*  The  delegates  from  Albany  county  to  the  Provincial  Congress  in 
session  at  New- York,  wrote  under  date  of  3d  October,  1775  :  "  This  once  gay, 
opulent  and  flourishing  city,  now,  comparatively  speaking,  appears  to  be  a 
town  of  desolation." 


52  THELIFEOF 


FROM  JOHN  H.   CRUGER. 

J^ew-York,  June  27th,  1775. 
Dear  Sir  : 

This  gOcs  by  Capt.  Goes,  who  has  charge  of  the  pipe  of  Ma- 
deira wine  I  send  you.  I  hope  you  are  well  up,  and  in  a  state  of 
more  tranquillity  than  you  would  have  been  here.  My  love  to 
Betsey,  and  best  wishes  for  her  happiness  and  yours. 

Monday's  paper  will  show  you  all  we  know  of  the  melancholy 
situation  of  affairs  to  the  eastward.  On  Sunday  we  had  landed  in 
our  city,  amidst  the  rattling  of  drums,  and  display  of  colors,  Gover- 
nor Tryon,  (as  you  may  guess  how,)  and  the  Generals  Washington, 
Lee,  and  Schuyler,  who  yesterday  afternoon  moved  off  with  a  pomp, 
magnificence  and  grandeur  becoming  the  importance  of  the  cause, 
in  which,  for  the  liberties  of  America,  they  are  embarked.  God 
grant  us  peace,  a  restoration  of  our  liberties,  and  a  good  constitu- 
tion.        Farewell. 

Yours,  affectionately, 

J.  H.  Cruger. 

FROM  THE  SAME. 

Mw-York,  October  18,  1775. 
Dear  Sir  : 

As  you  intended  when  you  left  us,  so  I  expected,  that  you 
would  have  been  down  to  the  court ;  but  as  we  must  now  return 
you  for  this  terra  non  est,  I  send  you  inclosed  the  last  letters  from 
England,  which  sooner  you  should  have  had  but  for  the  above  rea- 
son. To-morrow's  newspaper  will  show  you  a  correspondence 
since  Friday  last,  between  the  Governor  and  the  ]\Iayor,  and  his 
worship  and  the  committee,  which  is  exceeding'  polite  and  affec- 
tionate ;  the  result  will  prove,  it  is  supposed,  the  Governor's  em- 
barkation on  board  the  Asia. 

No  arrivals  from  England  of  late,  leave  us  without  news  from 
that  quarter.  It  is  on  the  northern  quarter  that  our  eyes  are  now 
fixed  for  something  important.  The  timid,  the  cautious,  the  judi- 
cious, or  the  prudent,  call  them  by  Avhich  name  you  will,  are 
removing  their  effects  again  out  of  town.  It  is  said  troops  are 
expected — trouble  of  course.     If  the  Governor  and  government 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  53 

officers  arc  taken  into  custody,  Captain  Vandeput  demands  tlicm ; 
the  consequence  of  a  denial  ^vill  be  attended  with  disagreeable 
circumstances,  the  effects  of  new  orders.  Thus  you  see,  my  good 
sir,  our  situation  is  not  a  bit  pleasanter,  or  more  eligible,  than 
when  you  left  us,  and,  in  my  humble  opinion,  no  dawn  of  better  times. 
All  friends  here  are  well.  Present  ray  compliments  to  your 
brother  David,  and  believe  me  to  be  very  much,  dear  sir, 
Your  aff"ectionate,  humble  servant, 

Jno.  Harris  Cruger. 

FROM  FREDERICK  RHINELANDER. 

J^eW'York,  2'2>d  February,  1776. 
Dear  Sir  : 

At  my  return  from  Philadelphia,  I  had  the  happiness  to  receive 
your  long  letter.  As  I  am  to  consider  it  as  an  answer  to  mine  of 
six  and  a  half  lines,  I  am  the  more  obliged  to  you  for  its  contents. 

I  forbear  to  mention  the  distressed  state  of  this  once  happy  city. 
Though  General  Lee  has  every  thing  to  recommend  him  as  a  gen- 
eral, yet  I  think  he  was  out  of  luck  when  he  ordered  the  removal 
of  the  guns  from  the  Battery;  as  it  was  without  the  approbation,  or 
knowledge,  of  our  Congress,  consequently  the  inhabitants  were 
unprepared  for  so  melancholy  an  event.  The  inclemency  of  the 
Aveather  heightened  our  distress.  The  wind,  too,  was  so  high  that 
the  rivers  could  not  be  crossed  but  with  the  utmost  hazard.  Samuel 
Bayard  was  made  prisoner.  The  secretary's  office  is  removed  to 
Nicholas  Bayard's,  where  Samuel  is  yet  under  a  guard.  I\Ir.  Stevens 
is  made  a  prisoner  by  the  New-England  troops,  and  sent  to  Hart- 
ford. A  flag  was  sent  on  board  the  Asia,  with  a  proposal  to 
exchange  Stevens  for  a  New-England  officer  taken  by  the  Asia 
last  summer ;  no  answer  has  been  sent.  General  Clinton  is  gone 
to  the  southward  ;  it  is  said  he  expects  to  be  joined  by  seven  thou- 
sand troops  from  the  other  side  the  water. 

General  Lee  is  taking  every  necessary  step  to  fortify  and 
defend  this  city.  The  men-of-war  are  gone  out  of  our  harbor; 
the  Phoenix  is  at  the  Hook ;  the  Asia  lays  near  Bedlow's  Island  ; 
so  that  we  are  now  in  a  state  of  perfect  peace  and  security,  was  it 
not  for  our  apprehensions  of  future  danger.  To  see  the  vast  number 
of  houses  shut  up,  one  would  think  the  city  almost  evacuated. 


54  THELIFEOF 

Women  and  children  are  scarcely  to  be  seen  in  the  streets.  Troops 
are  daily  coming  in ;  they  break  open  and  quarter  themselves  in 
any  houses  they  find  shut  up.  Necessity  knows  no  law.  Private 
interest  must  give  way  to  the  public  good.  JMr.  Jacob  Walton 
was  ordered  to  remove  and  give  up  his  house,  which  is  now  occu- 
pied by  the  soldiers.  I  have  not  moved  an  article  out  of  town  yet, 
though  I  have  taken  a  house  for  my  family,  at  a  place  called  Para- 
mus.  The  speaker  has  desired  me  to  get  a  place  for  him  in  the 
same  neighborhood.  I  think  it  will  be  out  of  the  route  of  the 
army. 

We  are  joiner  to  raise  a  new  battalion ;  Colonels  Lasher  and 

DO  ' 

Gouverneur  Morris  are  candidates  for  the  command.  As  both  the 
gentlemen  have  great  merit,  it  is  hard  to  tell  which  will  succeed. 

General  Lee  is  ordered  to  take  the  command  at  Canada;  Gen- 
eral Schuyler  to  command  at  New-York. 

Yours,  &c. 

Frederick  Rhinelander. 

The  winter  of  1776  found  Mr.  Van  Schaack  still  at  his  native 
village,  meditating  upon  the  distracted  state  of  his  country. 

^^  January^  1776,  at  Kinderhook. 

"The  only  foundation  of  all  legitimate  governments,  is  cer- 
tainly a  compact  between  the  rulers  and  the  people,  containing 
mutual  conditions,  and  equally  obligatory  on  both  the  contracting 
parties.  No  question  can  therefore  exist,  at  this  enlightened  day, 
about  the  lawfulness  of  resistance,  in  cases  of  gross  and  palpable 
infractions  on  the  part  of  the  governing  power.  It  is  impossible, 
however,  clearly  to  ascertain  every  case  which  shall  effect  a  disso- 
lution of  this  contract;  for  these,  though  always  tacitly  implied, 
are  never  expressly  declared,  in  any  form  of  government. 

"  As  a  man  is  bound  by  the  sacred  ties  of  conscience,  to  yield 
obedience  to  every  act  of  the  legislature  so  long  as  the  government 
exists,  so,  on  the  other  hand,  he  owes  it  to  the  cause  of  liberty,  to 
resist  the  invasion  of  those  rights,  which,  being  inherent  and  una- 
lienable, could  not  be  surrendered  at  the  institution  of  the  civil 
society  of  which  he  is  a  member.  In  times  of  civil  commotions, 
therefore,  an  investigation  of  those  rights,  which  will  necessarily 


PETER      VAN      S  C  II  A  A  C  K  .  55 

infer  an  inquiry  into  the  nature  of  pjovcrnmentj  becomes  the  indis- 
pensable duty  of  eveiy  man. 

"  There  are  perhaps  few  questions  relating  to  government  of 
more  diHiculty,  than  that  at  present  subsisting  between  Great  Brit- 
ain and  the  Colonies.  It  originated  about  the  degree  of  subordina- 
tion we  owed  to  the  British  Parliament,  but  by  a  rapid  progress,  it 
seems  now  to  be  whether  we  are  members  of  the  empire  or  not. 
In  this  view,  the  principles  of  Mr.  Locke  and  other  advocates  for  the 
rights  of  mankind,  are  little  to  the  purpose.  His  treatise  throughout 
presupposes  rulers  and  subjects  of  the  same  state,  and  upon  a  sup- 
position that  we  are  members  of  the  empire,  his  reasonings,  if  not 
inapplicable,  will  be  found  rather  to  militate  against  our  claims;  for 
he  holds  the  necessity  of  a  supreme  'power,  and  the  necessary  exist- 
ence of  one  legislature  only  in  every  society,  in  the  strongest 
terms. 

"Here  arises  the  doubt :  if  we  are  parts  of  the  same  state,  we 
cannot  complain  of  a  usurpation,  unless  in  a  quaUfied  sense,  but  we 
must  found  our  resistance  upon  an  undue  and  oppressive  exercise  of 
a  power  we  recognize.  In  short,  our  reasonings  must  resolve  into 
one  or  the  other  of  the  following  three  grounds,  and  our  right  of 
resistance  must  be  founded  upon  either  the  first  or  third  of  them  ; 
for  either,  first,  w^e  owe  no  obedience  to  any  acts  of  Parliament ;  or, 
secondly,  we  are  bound  by  all  acts  to  which  British  subjects  in 
Great  Britain  would,  if  passed  with  respect  to  them,  ow^e  obedience  ; 
or,  thii-dly,  we  are  subordinate  in  a  certain  degree,  or,  in  other  words, 
certain  acts  may  be  valid  in  Britain  which  are  not  so  here. 

"  Upon  the  first  point  I  am  exceedingly  clear  in  my  mind, 
for  I  consider  the  Colonies  as  members  of  the  British  empire,  and 
subordinate  to  the  Parliament.  But,  with  regard  to  the  second  and 
third,  I  am  not  so  clear.  The  necessity  of  a  supreme  power  in 
every  state,  strikes  me  very  forcibly ;  at  the  same  time,  I  foresee  the 
destructive  consequences  of  a  right  in  Parliament  to  bind  us  in  all 
cases  w^hatsoever.  To  obviate  the  ill  effects  of  either  extreme,  some 
middle  way  should  be  found  out,  by  which  the  benefits  to  the  em- 
pire should  be  secured  arising  from  the  doctrine  of  a  supreme  power, 
while  the  abuses  of  that  power  to  the  prejudice  of  the  colonists, 
should  be  guarded  against  \  and  this,  I  hope,  will  be  the  happy  effect 
of  the  present  struggle. 


56  THELIFEOF 

"  The  basis  of  such  a  compact  must  be,  the  securing  to  the 
Americans,  the  essential  rights  of  Britons,  but  so  modified  as  shall 
best  consist  witli  the  general  benefit  of  the  whole.  If  upon  such  a 
compact,  we  cannot  possess  the  specific  privileges  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Great  Britain,  (as  for  instance  a  representation  in  Parliament  we 
cannot,)  this  must  not  be  an  obstacle ;  for  there  is  certainly  a  point 
in  which  the  general  good  of  the  whole,  with  the  least  possible 
disadvantage  to  every  part,  does  centre,  though  it  may  be  difficult 
to  discern  it,  and  every  individual  part  must  give  way  to  the  general 
good. 

.  "  If  the  principles  upon  which  such  a  union  should  be  formed 
are  difficult  of  discovery,  will  it  not  mitigate  the  severity  of  the 
acts  we  complain  of?  If  the  line  between  authority  and  depend- 
ence has  never  been  drawn,  will  it  not  render  the  offence  less 
heinous  if  the  Parliament  has  transgressed  it  ? 

"  It  may  be  said,  that  these  principles  terminate  in  passive 
obedience  :  far  from  it.  I  perceive  that  several  of  the  acts  exceed 
those  bounds,  which,  of  right,  ought  to  circumscribe  the  Parlia- 
ment. But,  my  difficulty  arises  from  this,  that  taking  the  whole  of 
the  acts  complained  of  together,  they  do  not,  I  think,  manifest  a 
system  of  slavery,  but  may  fairly  be  imputed  to  human  frailty,  and 
the  difficulty  of  the  subject.  Most  of  them  seem  to  have  sprung 
out  of  particular  occasions,  and  are  unconnected  with  each  other, 
and  some  of  them  are  precisely  of  the  nature  of  other  acts  made 
before  the  commencement  of  his  present  Majesty's  reign,  which  is 
the  era  when  the  supposed  design  of  subjugating  the  colonies  be- 
gan. If  these  acts  have  exceeded  what  is  and  ought  to  he  de- 
clared to  be  the  line  of  ri2:ht,  and  thus  we  have  been  suflferers 
in  some  respects  by  the  undefined  state  of  the  subject,  it  will  also,  I 
think,  appear  from  such  a  union,  when  established,  if  past  trans- 
actions are  to  be  measured  by  the  standard  hereafter  to  be  fixed, 
that  we  have  hitherto  been  deficient  in  other  respects,  and  derived 
benefit  from  the  same  unsettled  state. 

"  In  short,  I  think  those  acts  may  have  been  passed  without  a 
preconcerted  plan  of  enslaving  us,  and  it  appears  to  me  that  the 
more  favorable  construction  ought  ever  to  be  put  on  the  conduct 
of  our  rulers.  I  cannot  therefore  think  the  government  dissolved  ; 
and  as  long  as  the  society  lasts,  the  power  that  every  individual 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  57 

gave  the  society  when  he  entered  into  it,  can  never  revert  to  the 
individuals  again,  but  will  always  remain  in  the  community.* 

"  If  it  be  asked  how  we  come  to  be  subject  to  the  authority  of 
the  British  Parliament,  I  answer,  by  the  same  compact  which 
entitles  us  to  the  benefits  of  the  British  constitution,  and  its  laws ; 
and  that  we  derive  advantage  even  from  some  kind  of  subordina- 
tion, whatever  the  degree  of  it  should  be,  is  evident,  because  with- 
out such  a  controlling  common  umpire,  the  colonies  must  become 
independent  states,  which  would  be  introductive  of  anarchy  and 
confusion  among  ourselves. 

"  Some  kind  of  dependence  being  then,  in  my  idea,  necessary 
for  our  own  happiness,  I  would  choose  to  see  a  claim  made  of 
a  constitution  which  shall  concede  this  point,  as  before  that  is 
done  by  us,  and  rejected  by  the  mother  country,  I  cannot  see 
any  principle  of  regard  for  my  country,  w^hich  will  authorize  me 
in  taking  up  arms,  as  absolute  dependence  and  independence  are 
two  extremes  which  I  would  avoid  j  for,  should  we  succeed  in  the 
latter,  we  shall  still  be  in  a  sea  of  uncertainty,  and  have  to  fight 
amonor  ourselves  for  that  constitution  we  aim  at. 

"  There  are  many  very  weighty  reasons  besides  the  above,  to 
restrain  a  man  from  taking  up  arms,  but  some  of  them  are  of  too 
delicate  a  nature  to  be  put  upon  paper ;  however,  it  may  be  proper 
to  mention  what  does  not  restrain  me.  It  is  not  from  apprehension 
of  the  consequences  should  America  be  subdued,  or  the  hopes  of 
any  favor  from  government,  both  which  I  disclaim ;  nor  is  it  from 
any  disparagement  of  the  cause  my  countrymen  are  engaged  in, 
or  a  desire  of  obstructing  the  present  measures. 

"  I  am  fully  convinced,  that  men  of  the  greatest  abilities,  and 
the  soundest  integrity,  have  taken  parts  in  this  war  with  America, 
and  their  measures  should  have  a  fair  trial.  But  this  is  too  serious 
a  matter,  implicitly  to  yield  to  the  authority  of  any  characters, 
however  respectable.  Every  man  must  exercise  his  own  reason, 
and  judge  for  himself;  '  for  he  that  appeals  to  Heaven,  must  be 
sure  that  he  has  right  on  his  side,'  according  to  Mr.  Locke,  it  is 
a  question  of  morality  and  religion,  in  which  a  man  cannot  con- 
scientiously take  an  active  part,  without  being  convinced  in  his 
own  mind  of  the  justice  of  the  cause ;  for  obedience  while  govern- 

*  Locke. 

8 


58  THELTFEOF 

ment  exists  bcinsf  clear  on  the  one  hand,  the  dissolution  of  the 
government  must  be  equally  so,  to  justify  an  appeal  to  arms;  and 
^vhatever  disagreeable  consequences  may  follow  from  dissenting 
from  the  creneral  voice,  yet  I  cannot  but  remember  that  I  am  to 
render  an  account  of  my  conduct  before  a  more  awful  tribunal, 
\vhere  no  man  can  be  justified,  who  stands  accused  by  his  own 
conscience  of  taking  part  in  measures,  which,  through  the  distress 
and  bloodshed  of  his  fellow-creatures,  may  precipitate  his  country 
into  ruin." 

Whatever  may  be  said  of  the  reasoning  of  the  foregoing  paper, 
it  exhibits  the  spectacle  of  a  great  mind,  unmoved  by  personal 
considerations,  unaffectedly  solicitous,  at  an  important  crisis  in 
public  affairs,  to  discharge  his  duties  faithfully,  and  in  the  solemn 
view  of  a  future  accountability.  The  course  which  he  determined 
to  pursue,  was  purely  the  result  of  principle,  and  of  conscientious 
views  of  duty.  He  made  his  obligations  in  this  particular  the 
subject  of  anxious  reflection,  and  of  careful  meditation  and  study. 
To  enlighten  his  mind,  he  made  critical  examinations  of  the  works 
of  Locke,  Vattel,  Montesquieu,  Grotius,  Beccaria,  Puffendorf,  and 
of  other  elementary  writers,  and  he  made  numerous  notes  and 
extracts  from  those  authors.*  Possibly  his  course  would  have 
differed,  had  he  not  resorted  so  much  to  hooks  for  its  government ; 
and  it  was  a  remark  of  one  of  his  own  favorite  authors,  that  "the 
highest  refinement  of  reason  is  not  always  desirable." 

A  calamity  of  an  alarming  character  now  awaited  him  in  his 
own  person.  In  the  early  part  of  spring  in  this  year,  he  experi- 
enced that  most  severe  and  trying  of  all  dispensations — blindness. 
His  assiduous  application  to  study,  and  to  ihe  critical  work  of  re- 
vising the  Colonial  statutes,  had  injured  his  vision,  and,  at  this  pe- 
riod, he  lost  the  sight  of  his  right  eye  entirely,  and  never  recovered 
the  use  of  it  afterwaids. 

In  May  of  this  year,  Mr.  Van  Schaack,  with  three  others,  was 
chosen  by  the  electors  of  the  district  of  Kintlerhook,  to  repiesent 
them  in  the  "  Committee  of  safety,  correspondence,  and  protection" 

*  Passages  in  S(jmc  of  these  works,  in  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  library,  applicable 
to  his  situation,  and  supporting  liis  sentiments,  still  retain  the  marks  made 
by  him. 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  59 

for  Albany  county,  which  then  embraced  the  present  county  of 
Cokunbla.  On  the  twenty-ninth  of  May,  he  attench'd  tlie  hrst  sit- 
ting of  the  newly  elected  (jreneral  Committee,  at  Albany,  and  took 
his  seat  as  a  member. 

At  this  meeting,  the  committee  for  the  Kinderhook  district  pre- 
sented to  the  Board  a  complaint  in  writing,  detailing  a  state  of  facts 
in  regard  to  certain  outrages  committed  in  their  district,  by  "  bodies 
of  armed  men  from  Claverack  and  Kings  district,  and  irom  Massa- 
chusetts Bay,  [  whoj  had  invaded  the  district,  and  without  authority 
of  any  Committee  of  this  [Albany]  county,  had  disarmed,  dra- 
gooned, and  ill  treated  the  inhabitants.  A  sub-committee  was  by 
them  [the  Board]  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  facts,  who  [at  a 
subsequent  meeting]  reported  that  they  had  been  fully  proved  upon 
oath  before  them.  Notwithstanding  this,  no  notice  was  taken  of 
the  report,  and  no  redress  given  to  the  persons  injured  ;  and  instead 
of  passing  a  censure  on  the  delinquents,  the  Committee  left  them  in 
possession  of  what  they  had  taken,  and  expelled  the  district  com- 
mittee [of  Kinderhook]  unheard,  unquestioned,  and  without  even  the 
specious  formality  of  a  trial !  and  that,  too,  by  an  order  made  ex- 
pressly for  the  purpose."* 

At  this  first  meeting  of  the  newly  elected  General  Committee,  also, 
'a  resolution  was  adopted,  requiring  the  general  association  to  be  ten- 
dered to  every  member  of  the  Board.  It  appears  by  the  minutes  of 
the  committee,  that  Mr.  Van  Schaack  and  his  associates  from  the 
Kinderhook  district,  declined  signing  the  association,  upon  its  being 
tendered  to  them.  By  a  resolution  passed  at  a  subsequent  meeting, 
the  committee  treated  this  refusal  as  "  declining  to  comply  with  the 
mode  of  obtaining  a  right  to  a  seat  in  this  Board,"  and  it  was  prob- 
ably the  reason  of  their  expulsion,  which  w^as  done  in  the  manner 
before  mentioned,  and  in  derogation,  as  it  \vould  seem,  of  the  rights 
of  the  electors  of  the  Kinderhook  district,  by  whom  they  had  been 
chosen  their  representatives  in  the  usual  manner,  and  without  any- 
such  restriction. 

The  association  referred  to,  and  which  Mr.  Van  Schaack  had 
thus  refused  to  sign,  was  the  new  association,  which  included  a 
pledge  to  take  up  arms  against  the  parent  state. 

We  have  seen  that   Mr.  Van   Schaack  was  opposed  to  the 

*  See  Appendix  E. 


60  THELIFEOF 

measures  of  the  British  ministry  ; — that  he  anxiously  desired  a  re- 
dress of  grievances; — and  that  as  a  member  of  the  two  committees  of 
"  filty-one,"  and  "  sixty,"  he  evinced  his  wilhngness  to  adopt  mea- 
sures to  procure  such  redress.  He  was  now  sohcitous  to  go  further 
in  the  exercise  of  peaceful  remedies ;  but,  when  it  was  required  of 
him  to  take  up  arms,  or  to  give  a  pledge  contemplating  measures  of 
force,  his  conscience  and  his  deliberate  views  of  duty,  and  of  the 
direful  consequences  which  he  apprehended  would  befall  his  coun- 
try, in  case  of  a  resort  to  the  major  vis,  would  not  permit  him  to  sanc- 
tion this  ultimate  step  in  the  progress  of  the  public  measures.  From 
about  this  period,  probably,  he  ceased  to  act  with  the  friends  of  the 
Revolution ;  influenced,  as  he  evidently  was,  by  a  conviction  of  too 
great  harshness  in  many  of  the  public  proceedings,  having  a  direct 
tendency  to  an  open  rupture, — by  partial  disgust  at  irregularities 
committed  by  the  w^higs,  "  in  the  name  of  liberty,"  and  by  his  domes- 
tic afllictions.  He  may  be  set  down  with  probable  correctness,  as 
among  that  class,  whom  he  elsewhere  describes,  as  being  "  disposed 
to  go  along  with  the  Congress  to  a  certain  limited  extent,  hoping 
in  that  way  to  fix  what  they  conceived  to  be  the  rights  of  their 
country  upon  the  firmest  foundation ;  but  as  soon  as  they  found,  that 
the  views  and  designs  of  the  American  leaders  rested  in  nothing 
short  of  a  dissolution  of  the  union  between  Great  Britain  and  her 
colonies,  they  refused  any  longer  to  participate  in  the  public  mea- 
sures." 

Having  been  deprived  of  one  of  the  most  essential  organs  of 
the  human  body,  and  with  the  apprehension  ever  present  to  his 
mind,  that  the  secret  causes  which  had  operated  to  destroy  the 
sight  of  one  eye,  might  also  affect  the  other,  a  new  aftiiction  await- 
ed him,  in  the  prospect  of  being  deprived  of  the  best  if  not  his  only 
earthly  stay  for  consolation,  should  he  be  reduced  to  a  state  of  total 
blindness.  In  August  of  this  year,  JVlrs.  Van  Schaack  was  seized 
with  a  dreadful  vomiting  of  blood,  which  produced  a  weakness  in 
the  lungs  that  led  to  a  decline,  which  eventually  terminated  her  life. 
In  October  of  this,  to  him,  eventful  and  most  alHictive  year,  he 
followed  to  the  tomb  the  remains  of  his  "  much  honored  father." 

In  the  midst  of  all  these  misfortunes,  which  seemed  to  "  tread 
each  other's  heels,"  he  could  find  no  consolation  in  the  tranquillity 
and  prosperity  of  his  country,  already  distracted  by  the  impending 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  Gl 

horrors  of  a  civil  war.  The  part,  also,  which  it  became  him  to 
take  in  this  great  contest,  rendered  this  the  most  trying  situation  of 
his  life.  Upon  mature,  dispassionate  and  conscientious  reflection, 
he  had  come  to  the  conclusion,  that  it  was  not  his  duty  to  take  up 
arms  against  the  mother  country.  Neither  did  he  feel  himself  jus- 
tified in  taking  a  part  against  the  colonies  ;  for,  as  has  been  seen, 
he  condemned  the  prominent  measures  of  the  British  government, 
which  constituted  the  grievances  of  the  colonies,  and  only  differed 
with  his  countrymen  in  regard  to  the  best  remedies  to  be  pursued. 

It  was  not  the  least  trying  circumstance  to  his  feelings,  that  in 
taking  this  position  of  neutrality,  he  found  himself  separated  from 
many  of  the  companions  of  his  early  youth,  and  from  his  most  inti- 
mate friends.  Not  to  mention  others,  his  particular  friends,  John 
Jay,  Egbert  Benson,  Theodore  Sedgwick  and  Gouverneur  Morris, 
w^ere  found  among  the  most  active  advocates  for  warlike  measures. 
His  wishes  were  to  have  gone  with  these  friends  ;  his  sense  of  duty, 
and  of  what  he  considered  to  be  the  best  interests  of  the  colonies, 
forbade  his  g:iving  countenance  to  measures  of  force.  The  appear- 
ance of  not  acting  up  to  what  his  best  friends  had  rated  as  a 
standard  of  patriotism,  and  his  seeming  (as  he  supposed  it  would 
seem  to  others)  to  act  against  the  interests  of  his  country,  gave  him 
great  pain,  and  operated  severely  upon  a  naturally  quick  sensibility, 
rendered  particularly  excitable  by  a  series  of  domestic  afflictions. 

The  repugnance  which  he  had  to  taking  up  arms,  was  by  no 
means  singular  in  him.  A  searching  master  spirit,  at  an  early 
period,  had  predicted,  tha^  "  aftei'  all,  ice  initst  Jight,''^  and  the 
sentiment  received  a  ready  response  in  another  bosom  of  fire.  But 
the  great  body  of  those  who  afterwards  became  the  pillars  of  the 
Revolution,  were  slow  in  coming  to  that  unwelcome  conclusion. 
And  when  Virginia's  great  orator  first  introduced,  in  her  Convention 
of  Delegates,  in  March,  1775,  a  proposition  for  organizing  "  a  well 
regulated  militia,"  the  suggestion  was  received  with  scorn  and 
marked  dissatisfaction,  and  the  resolutions  were  indignantly  op- 
posed by  such  men  as  Robert  C.  Nicholas  and  others  of  her  illus- 
trious sons,  and  among  whom  were  Richard  Bland,  Benjamin 
Harrison  and  Edmund  Pendleton,  who  had  been  delegates  to  the 
memorable  Congress  of  1774.*     Indeed,  the  attachment  of  the 

*  See  Wirt's  Life  of  Patrick  Kenry. 


62  THELIFEOF 

colonies  to  the  mother  country,  and  their  solicitude  for  a  continued 
political  connection,  notwithstanding  all  that  had  taken  place,  is 
claimed  to  have  been  one  of  the  brightest  features  in  the  Revolution 
which  established  the  independence  of  these  United  States. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  seems  to  have  entertained,  in  an 
eminent  and  peculiar  degree,  an  abhorrence  of  civil  war.  He 
looked  upon  it  as  a  calamity  above  all  others  to  be  most  deprecated, 
and  seemed  scarcely  willing  to  admit  an  idea  of  its  necessity  to 
secure  a  lodgment  in  his  mind.  It  was  his  own  language,  upon 
experience,  that  "  amidst  all  the  calamities  which  are  incident  to 
mankind,  those  attendant  upon  a  civil  war  are  the  most  grievous, 
complicated,  and  extensive.  Those  who  have  felt  its  horrors,  find 
the  most  animated  description  of  them  inadequate,  and  to  those  who 
have,  by  a  more  benign  dispensation  of  Providence,  been  exempt 
'  from  it,  the  detail  of  its  miseries  would  hardly  gain  credit.  The 
dissolution  of  the  bonds  of  civil  government,  and  the  anarchy  con- 
sequent upon  it,  constitute  the  epitome  of  human  wretchedness." 

His  mind  seemed  to  be  always  inclined  to  the  dark  side  of  the 
picture,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt,  that  his  sentiments  on  this 
subject,  in  their  application  to  the  then  state  of  public  affairs, 
were  influenced  in  a  measure,  (and  probably  unconsciously,)  by  his 
own  personal  situation.  He  had  just  commenced  his  professional 
course,  which  promised  high  distinction,  and  to  the  pursuit  of  which 
he  was  sincerely  devoted. 

"  Inter  arma  silent  leges  ;" 

and  he  no  doubt  felt  that  the  progress  of  the  arts  and  sciences,  as  well 
as  ofthe  law,  would  be  arrested  by  a  state  of  things  so  uncongenial 
to  their  flourishing.  The  rapid  succession  of  domestic  afflictions  with 
which  he  had  been  visited,  as  well  as  that  most  trying  calamity 
which  befell  his  eye-sight,  were  also  calculated  to  predispose  his 
mind  for  retirement,  and  for  the  tranquillity  of  peace.  If  it  be  true, 
that  character  often  receives  its  bias  from  accident  and  situation, 
it  will  easily  be  perceived,  that  the  circumstances  referred  to  may 
have  had  no  small  share  of  influence  upon  his  mind,  and  the  conse- 
quent government  of  his  course.* 

*  When  the  Revohition  broke  out,  also,  he  had  but  just  risen  from  the  la- 
borious work  of  revising  the  Colonial  statutes — a  work  which,  in  its  nature, 


PETERVANSCHAACK.  63 

Mr.  Van  Schaack  remained  in  retirement,  at  Kinderhook,  the  ' 
residue  of  this  year,  and  took  no  part  on  either  side.  The 
position  of  neutrality,  which  he  had  assumed,  he  rehgiously  ob- 
served ;  antl  he  evinced  no  desire  to  obstruct  the  public  measures, 
which  his  countrymen  saw  fit  to  adopt  to  accomplish  their  pur- 
poses. But,  he  was  not  long  left  to  the  tranquil  enjoyment  of 
^vhat  he  regarded  as  the  sacred  rights  of  conscience,  which 
was  all  he  desired.  The  master  spirits  of  the  Revolution,  acted 
upon  the  principle,  that  "  he  who  w^as  not  for  them,  was  against 
them."  The  subject  of  this  sketch,  being  known  to  possess  talents 
of  a  high  order,  and  an  elevated  reputation,  and  having  also  an 
extensive  acquaintance  and  numerous  family  connections  over 
whom  he  might  be  supposed  to  have  an  influence,  w^as,by  the  ap- 
plication of  this  principle,  rendered  an  object  of  suspicion,  and  he 
consequently  became  the  subject  of  further  proceedings. 

and  as  the  basis  of  its  usefuhaess,  contemplated  the  stability  and  permanency 
of  existing  institutions. 


64  THELIFEOF 


CHAPTER    IV. 

The  first  constitution  of  the  State  of  New-York  was  adopted 
in  April,  1777.*  For  two  years  previous  there  had  been  a  species 
of  interregnum,  and  the  powers  of  government  were  exercised, 
for  the  most  part,  by  committees  in  the  different  counties,  and  by 
a  Provincial  Congress,  or  Convention.  The  "  government  of  this 
colony,  by  Congress  and  committees,  was  instituted  while  the 
former  government,  under  the  crown  of  Great  Britain,  existed  in 
full  force;  and  was  established  for  the  sole  purpose  of  opposing  the 
usurpation  of  the  British  Parliament,  and  was  intended  to  expire 
on  a  reconciliation  with  Great  Britain,  which  it  was  then  appre- 
hended would  soon  take  place."f 

The  first  Provincial  Congress  w^as  chosen  in  May,  1775,  and 
was  induced  by  the  battle  of  Lexington.  The  electors  of  the  dif- 
ferent counties  met  in  their  respective  towns  or  districts,  and  chose 
a  number  of  persons  to  represent  their  respective  districts  in  a 
general  county  committee.  The  county  committee,  thus  organized, 
among  their  other  duties,  appointed  the  delegates  to  the  Provincial 
Congress.  Subsequently,  the  people,  in  their  respective  districts, 
voted  directly  for  such  delegates.  The  inconvenience  of  frequently 
calling  together  a  full  representation  from  the  different  districts, 
rendered  it  expedient  that  the  general  county  committees  should 
appoint  a  sub-committee  to  transact  their  ordinary  duties;  and  thus 
a  very  few  persons,  at  some  convenient  or  central  point  in  each 
county,  usually  did  the  whole  business.     And  so,  also,  when  there 

♦  The  first  Governor  and  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New- York  were 
chosen  in  June,  1777. 

t  This  is  the  language  of  a  resolution  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  of  31st 
May,  177G,  which  recommended  a  convention  to  take  into  consideration  the 
necessity  and  propriety  of  instituting  a  new  government,  and  it  is  recited  in 
the  preamble  to  the  constitution  as  adopted. 


PETER      VAN      S  C  ir  A  A  C  K  .  G5 

was  not  a  quorum  In  the  Provincial  Conj^ress,  the  momLers  present 
resolved  themselves  into  a  "comiuittee  of  safety,"  and,  in  that 
capacity,  exercised  the  functions  of  a  full  Congress. 

The  regulations  thus  resorted  to  as  a  "temporary  expedient," 
were  necessarily  inconvenient  and  defective,  and  they  were  obnox- 
ious to  mistake  and  abuse.  The  diHerent  powers  of  government 
were  confounded,  and  they  were  exercised  by  one  and  the  same  body, 
in  violation  of  all  rule  under  well  regulated  free  governments. 
This  imperfect  state  of  things,  led  to  the  adoption  of  the  first  con- 
stitution, which,  in  its  preamble,  recites  :  "  Whereas  many  and 
great  inconveniences  attend  the  said  mode  of  government  by  con- 
gress and  committees,  as  of  necessity,  in  many  instances,  legislative, 
judicial,  and  executive  powers  have  been  vested  therein." 

On  the  twenty-first  of  September,  1776,  the  Provincial  Con- 
vention had  appointed,  from  their  own  number,  "  a  committee  for 
inquiring  into,  detecting  and  defeating  all  conspiracies,  which  may 
be  formed  in  this  State  against  the  liberties  of  America."*  Very 
arbitrary  powers  were  given  to  this  committee.  They  were  au- 
thorized "  to  send  for  persons  and  papers ;  to  call  out  such  de- 
tachments of  the  militia  or  troops  in  the  different  counties,  as  they 
might  deem  necessary  for  suppressing  insurrections ;  to  apprehend, 
secure  or  remove  persons  whom  they  might  judge  dangerous  to  the 
safety  of  the  State ;  to  make  drafts  on  the  treasury  for  a  sum  not 
exceeding  five  hundred  pounds ;  to  enjoin  secrecy  upon  their  mem- 
bers, and  the  persons  they  employed,  whenever  they  should  deem 
the  same  necessary;  and  to  raise  and  officer,  and  put  under  pay, 
220  men,  and  to  station  them  in  such  places,  and  employ  them  on 
such  services,  as  they  should  judge  expedient  for  the  public  safety ; 
and,  in  general,  to  do  every  act  and  thing  whatsoever  necessary  to 
execute  the  trust  reposed  in  them."f 

It  will  scarcely  now  be  credited,  that  powers  so  undefined  and 
extraordinary,  should  have  been  intrusted  to  a  few  individuals,  by 
a  people  so  jealous  of  encroachments,  whose  sense  of  hberty  was 
so  keen  as  to  "  snuflf  the  approach  of  tyranny  in  every  tainted 

*  On  the  eleventh  of  February,  1777,  "  Commissio7iers''  of  Conspiracies, 
who  were  not  members  of  the  convention,  were  appointed  in  place  of  this 
"  committee,"  which  was  then  dissolved. 

t  Journals  of  Couvemion. 


66  THE!,  IFEOF 

breeze,"  and  who,  on  their  own  part,  had  "  gone  to  war  against  a 
preamble." 

It  was  in  the  critical  state  of  American  affairs,  at  this  period, 
that  the  justitication  for  the  delegation  of  such  arbitrary  authority 
has  been  placed  *  The  desperate  character  of  the  American 
cause,  at  this  time,  is  also  abundantly  illustrated  by  the  despotic 
powers  conferred  upon  General  Washington,  by  a  resolve  of  the 
Continental  Congress,  passed  on  the  27th  day  of  December,  1776.t 
So  unusual  and  extraordinary  were  these  powers,  as  to  occasion  an 
apology  from  Congress,  who,  on  the  next  day,  appointed  a  com- 
mittee "  to  prepare  a  circular  letter  to  the  several  United  States, 
explaining  the  reasons  which  induced  Congress  to  enlarge  the 
powers  of  General  Washington." 

The  county  committees  before  referred  to,  exercised  most  of  the 
functions  that  were  conferred  upon  the  committee  of  conspiracies 
appointed  by  the  convention,  sometimes  in  obedience  to  the  requi- 
sitions of  that  committee  and  of  the  convention,  and  committee  of 
safety,  and  at  others  upon  their  own  responsibility.  That  such  a 
confounding  of  powers  and  duties  should  have  led  to  many  abuses 
and  irregularities,  will  not  be  surprising.  We  accordingly  find, 
that  individuals  were  often  arrested  upon  mere  suspicion,  and  re- 
moved many  miles  from  their  families  and  homes,  and  consigned 
to  the  walls  of  a  prison ;  and  although  afterwards  discharged  on 
the  ground  of  their  innocence,  they  were  required  to  pay  all  the 
expense  attending  the  unfounded  proceeding,  and  their  property 
was  subjected  to  immediate  attachment  for  that  purpose.J 

An  involuntary  remark  bearing  the  appearance  of  unfriendli- 
ness to  the  public  measures, — such  as  speaking  disrespectfully  of 
the  Congress,  or  of  its  proceedings, — was  often  made  the  occasion 
or  pretext  for  arrest  and  imprisonment.  It  was  a  very  common 
circumstance,  also,  to  incarcerate  individuals,  for  refusing  to  take 
depreciated  Continental  paper  money  at  par,  in  discharge  of  bonds 
and  mortgages. 

It  is  difficult  for  the  mind  at  this  period,  to  reconcile  itself  to 

•  Life  of  Jay,  Vol.  I.  p.  50.  t  See  Appendix  C. 

t  The  detail  of  facts  which  accompanies  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  letter  to  the 
convention,  hereafter  to  be  given,  presents  some  of  these  irregularities  in  a 
very  authentic  shape.     See  Appendix  E. 


PETER      VAN     S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  67 

these  proceedings,  especially  in  view  of  the  eventual  worthlessness, 
anil  inedcniption  of  the  paper  thus  questioned.*  And  it  may  be 
doubted  whellRT  any  very  large  portion,  even  of  well-informed 
minds,  at  the  present  day,  would  readily  perceive,  how  it  could 
constitute  a  criminal  olFence  to  refuse  to  receive  in  payment  of  debts 
a  paper  emission  of  a  government  not  yet  fully  established,  which 
did  not  draw  to  it  the  public  confidence.  But,  it  was  an  attack 
upon  the  abstract  idea  of  sovereignty. 

Unfounded  complaints  were,  no  doubt,  often  made  to  the  com- 
mittees, to  gratify  private  malice,  and  vindictive  feelings ;  and, 
Avith  the  best  intentions  on  the  part  of  those  bodies,  (who  frequent- 
ly acted  ea:  par/e,  and  upon  suspicion  merely,)  their  proceedings 
^vould,  no  doubt,  sometimes  operate  oppressively,  and  with  injustice 
upon  innocent  individuals ;  and  they  not  unlikely  led  to  disgust, 
in  such  cases,  with  the  public  measures,  presenting  to  their  minds 
the  alternative  of  Sylla  and  Charybdis,  and  tending  to  confirm 
others  in  their  opposition  to  the  American  cause.  That  irregulari- 
ties of  this  description  were  numerous,  cannot  be  questioned ;  but  a 
philosophic  mind  will  look  upon  them  without  surprise,  and  will 
regard  them  as  the  natural,  if  not  necessary  concomitants  of  a  state 
of  civil  war,  and  that  the  responsibility  of  their  occurrence  is  to  be 
laid  at  the  feet  of  rulers,  who,  by  their  ill-judged  and  oppressive 
measures,  have  driven  their  subjects  to  a  state  of  distraction  and 
suspicion,  whence  those  evils,  under  the  infirmities  of  human  nature, 
have  a  natural  flow. 

The  responsibilities  which  devolved  upon  these  county  commit- 
tees, were  immense.  They  were  frequently  called  upon  to  act  upon 
very  sudden  emergencies,  and  many  of  their  members  were  un- 
learned in  the  law,  and  ignorant  of  those  judicial  forms,  the 
observance  of  which  is  often  so  essential  to  the  due  administration 
of  justice,  and  the  proper  security  of  the  liberty  and  rights  of  the 
citizen.  The  industry,  vigilance,  persevering  energy,  pecuniary 
sacrifices  and  responsibilities,  fortitude,  and  single  devotedness  to 
the  great  cause  in  which  they  w^ere  engaged,  manifested  by  many 
of  these  committees,  as  exhibited  by  the  records  of  their  proceed- 

*  There  were  numerous  cases  of  persons  who  lost  entire  and  vakiable 
farms,  having  received  Continental  money  in  payment,  which  was  never  re- 
deemed by  the  government. 


GS  THELIFEOF 

ings,  furnish  sufficient  evidence,  that  they  were  governed,  in  the 
main,  by  high  and  patriotic  motives,  and  that  the  errors  \vhich 
they  committetl  ^vere  those  of  the  head,  and  not  of  the  heart. 

An  anecdote  concerning  one  of  these  committees,  illustrating 
the  extreme  jealousy  of  liberty,  and  the  extent  to  which  popular 
suspicion  is  often  carried  in  times  of  civil  commotion,  may  be  pro- 
perly introduced  in  tliis  connection.*  The  grave  importance 
attached  to  a  trifling  jeu  d^esprit,  will,  at  this  day,  only  afford  a 
subject  for  amusement. 

When  General  Schuyler  arrived  at  Albany,  in  July,  1775,  to 
take  charge  of  the  military  command  in  the  department  of  New- 
York,  under  his  recent  appointment  from  the  Continental  Congress, 
a  public  reception  was  given  him  under  the  direction  of  the  com- 
mittee of  safety.  The  processional  display,  upon  this  occasion, 
was  probably  not  distinguished  for  its  regularity,  or  magnificence, 
and  it  gave  rise  to  the  following  anonymous  publication : 

"  The  mode  of  a  late  very  extraordinary,  and  very  grand 
procession. 

"  I.  The  Congressional  General. 

"  II.  The  Deputy  Chairman,  and  who  is  only  chairman  pro  tem- 
pore. 

"  III.  Mr.  Ten  Broeck — through  a  mistake. 

"  IV.  The  Chairman. 

"  V.  The  Committee. 

"  VL  The  troop  of  horse,  most  beautiful  and  grand.  Some 
horses  long-tailed,  some  bob-tailed,  and  some  without  any  tails,  and 
attended  with  the  melodious  sound  of  an  incomparably  fine  trumpet. 

"  VTT.  The  Association." 

The  "  committee  of  safety,  protection  and  correspondence," 
entered  with  spirit  and  zeal  upon  the  investigation  of  the  matter 
with  a  view  to  the  discovery  and  punishment  of  the  anonymous 
author  of  the  paper  in  question.  A  meeting  of  the  Board  was 
summoned,  at  which  it  was  gravely  resolved,  that  "  the  paper  con- 
tained scandalous  reflections  on  the  proceedings  of  last  Sunday." 

♦  Tlie  facts  composing  this  anecdote,  arc   taken  from  the  minutes  of  the 
Albany  committee,  and   their  authenticity  is  thus  placed  beyond  question. 


r  E  T  E  R     V  A  N      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  GO 


5J 


A  system  of  espionage  was  adopted  to  discover  its  supposed  "  tory 
author.  The  public  were  called  upon,  to  lodge  all  such  informa- 
tion as  might  lead  to  his  discovery.  The  committee  adjourned 
from  time  to  time,  in  the  prosecution  of  their  labors ;  and  public 
meetings  of  the  citizens  were  called  and  held,  at  which  the  subject 
was  discussed. 

At  the  expiration  of  three  days  of  unwonted  perturbation,  Peter 
W.  Yates,  a  member  of  the  excited  committee,  desirous  to  restore 
quiet  to  an  agitated  city,  made  known  to  his  associates,  that  he  was 
the  author  of  the  obnoxious  paper,  at  the  same  time  making  a  very 
full  apology  for  his  indiscretion,  and  most  solemnly  disclaiming 
"  any  intention  to  injure  the  cause  of  liberty." 

The  committee  resolved,  "that  the  concession  and  acknowledo;- 
ment  were  satisfactory  to  the  Board."  This,  however,  did  not 
appease  the  resentment  of  the  public,  which  was  well  nigh  inex- 
orable. The  whole  city  was  in  uproar  on  the  occasion,  and  several 
public  meetings  were  held,  by  which  Mr.  Yates's  expulsion  from 
the  Board  was  demanded. 

In  deference  to  public  sentiment,  Mr.  Yates  resigned  his  of- 
fice of  committee-man.  But  this  did  not  conciliate  the  ofTemled 
"  Sons  of  Liberty,"  and,  notwithstanding  the  resignation,  the  com- 
mittee, "  in  order  to  satisfy  the  minds  of  the  people,  and  for  the 
sake  of  preserving  harmony  in  the  city,"  proceeded  to  the  solemn 
task  of  expulsion.  They,  however, resolved  that  "the  proceedings 
of  this  committee  upon  the  said  paper  should  not  be  published, 
provided  the  said  Peter  W.  Yates,  Esquire,  make  a  public  confes- 
sion, in  person,  to  the  people  here  assembled."  A  committee  was 
thereupon  appointed  to  wait  upon  Mr.  Yates,  and  to  "  give  him 
assurances  of  safety,  if  he  should  be  inclined  to  make  the  said  con- 
fession." Mr.  Yates  accordingly  appeared  before  his  assembled 
fellow-citizens,  and  made  the  required  acknowledgment  ;  the 
"  cause  of  liberty"  was  thus  vindicated,  and  her  indignant,  but  now 
appeased  "sons"  repaired  to  their  homes  without  committing  any 
violence.* 


*  Although  the  public  acknowledgment  of  his  waywardness  saved  his 
expulsion,  Mr.  Yates  persisted  in  his  resignativm.  A  new  election  was 
ordered,  a  few  days  afterwards,  at  which  his  constituents  of  the  first  ward 
evinced  their  unabated  confidence  in  his  patriotism,  by  re-electing  him  to  the 


70  THELIFEOF 

On  the  twenty-first  of  December,  1776,  the  committee  of  con- 
spiracies made  the  following  order.  "Whereas  this  committee 
have  been  credibly  informed,  and  have  good  reason  to  believe, 
that  David  Van  Schaack  and  Peter  Van  Schaack,  Esquires,  Messrs. 
John  Stevenson  and  Cornelius  Glen,  of  the  city  and  county  of  Al- 
bany, have  long  maintained  an  equivocal  neutrality  in  the  present 
stru"-gles,  and  are  in  general  supposed  unfriendly  to  the  American 
cause,  and  from  their  influence  are  enabled  to  do  it  essential 

injury, 

"  Resolved,  that  the  committee  of  the  city  and  county  of  Albany 
be  requested  to  summon  said  persons  to  appear  before  them,  to  ask 
them  whether  they  respectively  consider  themselves  as  subjects  of 
the  State  of  New-York,  or  of  the  King  of  Great  Britain ;  if  they  an- 
swer that  they  consider  themselves  as  subjects  of  the  State  of  New- 
York,  then  to  tender  to  them  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and,  on  their 
taking  and  subscribing  the  same,  to  discharge  them ;  but  if  they 
should  answer,  that  they  consider  themselves  as  subjects  of  the 
Kinor  of  Great  Britain,  or  refuse  to  take  the  oath  aforesaid,  then 
to  remove  them,  under  the  care  of  some  discreet  officer,  to  the  tow^n 
of  Boston,  at  their  own  expense,  and  there  to  remain  on  their  pa- 
role of  honor  till  the  further  order  of  this  committee,  or  the  conven- 
tion, or  future  legislature  of  this  State,  and  thai  a  copy  of  their 
parole  be  sent  to  the  selectmen  of  the  said  town  of  Boston. 

"  Resolved,  that  a  copy  of  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  the 
parole  aforesaid,  be  sent  to  the  committee  of  the  city  and  county 
of  Albany." 

On  the  30th  December,  the  Albany  committee  passed  a  resolu- 
tion, directing  their  secretary  to  address  a  letter  to  Mr.  Van  Schaack 
requiring  his  attendance  before  them ;  and,  on  the  9th  of  January, 
he  appeared  before  that  body.  It  appears  by  their  minutes  of  this 
date,  that  Mr.  Van  Schaack  "  refused  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance, 
directed  by  the  said  committee  to  be  taken  by  those  who  consider 
themselves  subjects  of  the  State  of  New-York,"  and  that,  in  conse- 

same  station.  Wounded  pride  probably  deterred  him  from  again  taking  a 
seat  in  the  Board,  and  his  ardor  in  "  the  cause  of  liberty"  appears  to  have 
abated.  His  name,  however,  subsequently  appears  among  the  representatives 
of  the  State  legislature,  by  which  body  he  was,  also,  several  times  appointed 
member  of  Congress. 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  /I 

quence  of  tlils  refusal,  an  order  was  made,  "  that  he  depart  hence 
directly  to  Boston  within  ten  days." 

A  few  days  afterwards,  he  presented  a  petition  to  the  commit- 
tee, for  leave  "  to  remain  in  the  county  for  such  time,  and  under 
such  restrictions  as  the  Board  should  think  proper,  in  order  to  ad- 
just his  affairs,  so  as  that  they  might  admit  of  his  absence."  This 
request  was  denied. 

The  Provincial  Convention  was  then  in  session  at  Fishkill,  and 
Mr.  Van  Schaack  appealed  to  that  body,  in  a  document  of  com- 
manding interest,  which  he  concludes  by  asking  leave  to  remove 
from  the  State  with  his  family  and  effects,  maintaining  it  to  be  his 
right. 

LETTER  TO  THE  CONVENTION.* 

Kinderhook,  25th  Jan.,  1777. 
Gentlemen  : 

I  am  now  about  setting  out,  conformably  to  the  sentence  of 
your  Committee,  to  make  the  town  of  Boston  my  prison,  to  which 
I  am  condemned  by  them  unheard,  upon  a  charge  of  maintaining 
an  equivocal  neutrality  in  the  present  struggles.  How  far  the  pun- 
ishment of  banishment  for  this  can  be  justified,  either  by  the  prac- 
tice of  other  nations,  or  upon  those  principles  on  which  alone  legit- 
imate governments  are  founded,  and  how  far  it  answers  those  ends, 
which  alone  make  punishments  a  lawful  exercise  of  power,  I  shall 
not  at  present  inquire ;  but  as  it  implies,  that  your  committee  con- 
siders me  as  a  subject  of  your  State,  it  behooves  me,  gentlemen,  "  to 
address  you  with  that  freedom  which  can  never  give  offence  to  the 
representatives  of  a  free  people." 

When  I  appeared  before  the  Albany  committee,  I  refused  to 
answer  the  question,  whether  I  considered  myself  as  a  subject  of 
Great  Britain,  or  of  the  State  of  New  York,  because  I  perceived 
the  dilemma  in  which  it  would  involve  me,  of  either  bringing 
punishment  on  myself,  in  consequence  of  my  own  declaration,  or 
of  taking  an  oath,  which,  if  I  had  been  never  so  clear  respecting 
the  propositions  it  contains,  under  the  circumstances  it  was  offered 
to  me,  and  in  my  present  situation,  I  should  not  have  taken. 

*   The  original  is  preserved  in  the  archives  of  the  State,  at  Albany,  where 
it  is  bound  up  with  other  revolutionary  documents. 


72  THELIFEOF 

The  reasons  peculiar  to  myself,  I  shall  not  urge  ;  but,  supposing 
the  independency  of  this  State  to  be  clearly  established,  I  conceive 
it  is  premature,  to  tender  an  oath  of  allegiance  before  the  govern- 
ment to  which  it  imposes  subjection,  the  time  it  is  to  take  place  of 
the  present  exceptionable  one,  and  who  are  to  be  the  rulers,  as 
well  as  the  mode  of  their  appointment  in  future,  are  known  ;  for 
with  every  favorable  allowance  to  those  arguments  which  suppose 
it  improbable  that  those  who  are  contending  for  the  rights  of 
mankind  will  ever  invade  them,  and  that  those  who  have  vindi- 
cated liberty  against  one  tyranny,  will  establish  or  countenance 
another ;  I  say,  admitting  these  arguments  to  have  weight,  both 
history  and  experience  have,  however,  convinced  me  that  they  are 
by  no  means  conclusive. 

In  the  resolutions  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the  31st  May 
last,  I  find  it  declared,  that"7?ia?iy  and  great  inconveniences  attend 
the  mode  of  government  by  congress  and  committees,  as  of  neces- 
sity, in  many  instances,  legislative,  executive  and  judiciary  powers 
have  been  vested  in  them."  Now,  gentlemen,  the  union  of  these 
powers  in  the  same  body  of  men,  according  to  him  whom  the 
continental  congress  call  the  "  immortal  Montesquieu,"  "  puts  an 
end  to  liberty  ;"  and  is  there  not  cause,  therefore,  (reasoning  entirely 
from  the  fallibility  of  mankind  without  respect  to  persons,)  to  be 
very  jealous  of  a  government,  established  by  a  body  of  men  with 
such  a  plenitude  of  power,  especially  when  they  have  not  given 
the  public  the  common  security  of  an  oath  for  the  fair  and  impar- 
tial exercise  of  it  ?  Have  not  the  people  a  right  to  expect  that 
the  intended  constitution  should  be  published  for  their  approbation, 
before  they  are  compelled,  under  so  severe  a  penalty  as  banish- 
ment, to  swear  fidelity  to  it  ?* 

The  declaration  of  independency  proceeded  upon  a  supposition, 
that  ihe  constitution  under  which  we  before  lived  was  actually  dis- 
solved, and  the  British  government,  as  such,  totally  annihilated 
here.  Upon  this  principle,  I  conceive  that  we  were  reduced  to  a 
state  of  nature,  in  which  the  powers  of  government  reverted  to  the 
people,  who  had  undoubtedly  a  right  to  establish  any  new  form 

*  The  Convention  appears  to  have  subsequently  become  satisfied  of  the 
impropriety  of  administering  a  general  oath  of  allegiance,  before  a  regular 
guvernmeut  was  organized.     See  Appendix  D. 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  73 

they  thourrht  proper ;  tliat  portion  of  his  natural  liberty  which 
eacli  indivkhial  had  before  surrendered  to  the  government,  being 
now  resumed,  and  to  whleli  no  one  in  society  could  make  any 
claim  until  he  incorporated  himself  in  it. 

But,  gentlemen,  admitting  there  was  never  so  clear  a  majority 
in  favor  of  independency,  and  who  were  convinced  that  they  were 
absolved  from  their  alleq^lance,  and  admitting  that  you  are  now 
vested  with  powers  to  form  a  new  government,  by  the  suffrages  of 
a  majority  of  the  people  of  this  State ;  permit  me  to  observe  that 
those  W'ho  are  of  different  sentiments,  be  they  never  so  few",  are  not 
absolutely  concluded,  in  point  of  right  thereby.  The  question  w^he- 
ther  a  government  is  dissolved  and  the  people  released  from  their  al- 
legiance, is,  in  my  opinion,  a  question  of  morality  as  well  as  religion, 
in  which  every  man  must  judge,  as  he  must  answer  for  himself  j  and 
this  idea  is  fairly  held  up  to  the  public  in  your  late  address,  where- 
in you  declare, "  that  every  individual  must  one  day  answer  for  the 
part  he  now  acts."  If  he  must  answer  for  the  part  be  acts,  which 
certainly  presupposes  the  right  of  private  judgment,  he  can  never 
be  justifiable  in  the  sight  of  God  or  man,  if  he  acts  against  the  light 
of  his  own  conviction.  In  such  a  case  no  n^djority,  however  re- 
spectable, can  decide  for  him. 

But,  admitting  that  a  man  is  never  so  clear  about  the  dissolu- 
tion of  the  old  government,  I  hold  it  that  every  individual  has  still 
a  right  to  choose  the  State  of  w^hicb  he  will  become  a  member ;  for 
before  he  surrenders  any  part  of  his  natural  liberty,  he  has  a  right 
to  know  what  security  he  will  have  for  the  enjoyment  of  the  resi- 
due, and  "  men  being  by  nature  free,  equal  and  independent,"  the 
subjection  of  any  one  to  the  political  power  of  a  State,  can  arise 
only  from  ''  his  own  consent.''  I  speak  of  the  formation  of  society 
and  of  a  man's  initiating  himself  therein,  so  as  to  make  himself  a 
member  of  it ;  for  I  admit,  that  when  once  the  society  is  formed, 
the  majority  of  its  members  undoubtedly  conclude  the  rest. 

Upon  these  principles,  I  hold  it  that  you  cannot  justly  put  me 
to  the  alternative  of  choosing  to  be  a  subject  of  Great  Britain,  or 
of  this  State,  because  should  I  deny  subjection  to  Great  Britain,  it 
would  not  follow  that  I  must  necessarily  be  a  member  of  the  State 
of  New  York;  on  the  contrary,  I  should  still  hold  that  I  had  a  right, 
by  the  "  immutable  laws  of  nature,"  to  choose  any  other  State  of 

10 


74  THELIFEOF 

which  I  would  become  a  member.  And,  gentlemen,  if  you 
think  me  so  dangerous  a  man,  as  that  my  liberty  at  home  is  incom- 
patible with  the  public  safety,  I  now  claim  it  at  your  hands  as  my 
right,  that  you  permit  me  to  remove  from  your  State  into  any  other 
I  may  prefer,  in  which  case,  I  reserve  to  myself  the  power  of  dis- 
posing of  ray  property  by  sale  or  otherwise. 

I  would  not  be  so  far  misunderstood,  as  if  I  supposed  that  no 
person  is  amenable  to  the  authority  of  a  State,  unless  he  has  ex- 
pressly recognized  and  consented  to  it.     I  am  aware,  that  there 
may  be  an  implied  consent  arising  from  a  temporary  residence  in 
a  community  and  "  deriving  protection  from  the  laws  of  the  same." 
But,  to  make  a  man  a  member  of  any  society,  and  a  subject  of  its 
government,  in  that  sense  which  would  restrain  him  from  quitting 
it,  and  removing  to  another  he  may  like  better,  I  conceive  that  a 
positive,  express,  unequivocal  engagement  is  necessary.     I  am  con- 
strained, therefore,  to  deny,  in  its  full  latitude,  the  assertion  in  your 
resolution  of  the  16th  July,  "  that  persons  abiding  in  the  State  and 
deriving  protection  from  the  laws  of  the  same,  are  members  of  the 
state,"  for  I  hold  it,  that  they  are  from  those  circumstances  merely, 
no  otherw^ise  memlaers  of  it  than  in  a  sense  so  qualified  as  to  make 
the  position  immaterial  in  the  present  case.     These,  as  far  as  I  un- 
derstand them,  are  the  sentiments  of  Mr.  Locke  and  those  other 
advocates  for  the  rights  of  mankind,  whose  principles  have  been 
avowed  and  in  some  instances  carried  into  practice,  by  the  Con- 
gress. 

According  to  these  principles  I  have  endeavored  to  conduct 
myself  during  the  present  calamities  of  this  country.  Whatever 
my  private  opinions  may  have  been  of  their  rectitude,  wisdom,  or 
policy,  I  have  acquiesced  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Congress,  and 
expected  whenever  I  transgressed  their  ordinances,  to  undergo  the 
penalty,  whether  of  fine,  imprisonment,  or  otherwise  ;  and  this  I 
conceived  entitled  me  to  protection.  Between  protection  and 
reward  in  society,  I  conceived  there  was  a  wide  difference,  and 
that  the  man  who  took  no  active  part  against  you,  was  entitled 
to  the  former,  but  that  a  claim  to  the  latter  could  only  be  founded 
on  some  positive  merit ;  and  as  I  never  solicited yjxtors,  I  never  ex- 
pected to  suffer  for  wanting  the  qualifications  necessary  to  entitle 
me  to  them. 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  75 


Disposed,  however,  to  make  allowances  for  the  exif^encies  of 
the  times,  1  woulil  cheerfully  have  submitted  to  an  al)rid<^mentof  my 
liberty,  if  those  in  authority  really  thou<^ht  it  incompatible  with  the 
public  safety ;  but  then,  in  determining  this,  I  ex[)ected  regard 
should  have  been  paid  to  the  principles  of  judicial  equity,  and  that 
those  who  gave  an  opinion  respecting  my  principles,  should  have 
been  compelled  to  assign  the  facts  on  which  it  was  founded,  and 
that  I  should  have  had  an  opportunity  of  controverting  them,  and 
of  impeaching  the  credibility,  or  proving  the  infamy  of  the  inform- 
ers against  me.  But  if  I  was  to  be  condemned  on  suspicion,  I  ex- 
pected at  least  that  my  informers  and  judges  should  have  been 
under  oath ;  and  if  a  test  was  necessary,  I  expected  it  would  be  in 
consequence  of  some  general  law,  putting  all  men  who  are  in  the 
same  class  in  the  same  situation,  and  not  that  it  should  be  left  at 
the  discretion  of  particular  men  to  tender  it  to  such  individuals  as  ma- 
levolence, or  party,  family,  or  personal  resentment  should  point  out. 

I  have  been  several  times  apprised,  that  my  brothers  and  myself 
have  been  represented  to  you  as  dangerous  persons,  whose  influence 
has  disseminated  a  general  disaffection  through  the  district,  upon 
which  charge  I  shall  be  silent,  as  I  well  know  the  invidious  light 
in  which  declarations  tending  to  remove  suspicions  of  this  nature 
are  received.  I  cannot,  however,  avoid  sending  you  a  detail  of 
the  proceedings  relative  to  this  district,*  in  which  perhaps  you  w^ill 
be  able  to  trace  a  cause  for  its  general  disaffection,  (if  it  be  so,) 
more  efficacious  than  any  influence  we  can  be  supposed  to  have. 
An  inquiry  into  this  cannot  be  unworthy  of  your  attention,  and  if 
you  find  an  adequate  cause  in  them,  I  hope  all  conjectures  about  a 
supposed  one  w'ill  vanish.  With  this  detail  you  w^ould  sooner  have 
been  furnished,  but  that  complaints  of  the  abuses  of  power,  are 
supposed  in  these  cases  to  be  levelled  at  the  power  itself,  and  im- 
puted to  an  insidious  view  of  exciting  disunion. 

I  have  now,  gentlemen,  concluded  the  business  of  this  applica- 
tion, which,  as  I  had  not  the  honor  or  a  personal  hearing,  I  am 
obliged  to  offer  by  way  of  letter.  My  request  is  for  leave  to 
quit  your  State,  and  my  reasons  I  have  explained  at  large. 

If  my  principles  are  ill-founded,  or  misapplied,  I  shall  readily 
retract  my  errors  when  pointed  out ;    but  if  they  are  founded  on 

*  Vide  Appendix  E. 


76  THELIFEOF 

the  immutable  laws  of  nature,  and  the  sacred  rights  of  mankind,  if 

they  are  such  as  are  generally  acknowledged   by  writers   of  the 

greatest  eminence,  and  if  they  are  necessarily  connected  with  the 

same  principles  on  which  the  American  opposition   is  justified,  I 

trust   tlu'y  will  readily  be  admitted  by  you,  though  urged  by  an 

individual ;  nor  do  I  conceive  they  now  come  before   you  in  an 

extra-judicial  way,  but  are  clearly  connected  with  my  defence,  on  a 

charge  which  has  been  thought  of  importance  enough  to  subject 

me  to  banishment  from  my  native  place. 

I  had  several  observations  to  make  respecting  the  peculiar 

nature  of  the  parole  imposed  on  me,  but  if  I  receive  such  an  answer 

to  my  request  as  I  expect,  they  will  be  superseded. 

I  am,  Gentlemen, 

Your  most  ob't  serv't, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

The  author  is  here  tempted  to  introduce  several  extracts  from 
the  Life  of"  Gouverneur  Morris.* 

"  The  American  colonies,  during  the  three  first  years  of  the 
Revolution,  presented  a  phenomenon  in  the  political  world,  of  which 
there  is  no  example  in  the  history  of  nations.  Twelve  governments, 
which  had  hitherto  existed  independent  of  each  other,  and  alike 
subordinate  to  a  superior  power,  all  at  once,  and  as  if  by  common 
consent,  threw  off  their  allegiance  to  that  power,  and  assumed  to 
themselves  the  perilous  task  of  self-government,  at  the  fearful  haz- 
ard of  distraction  and  anarchy  among  themselves,  and  of  receiving 
on  their  heads  the  weight  of  vengeance  prepared  by  their  former 
masters,  as  a  punishment  for  their  disobedience  and  revolt.  No 
condition  of  human  affairs  could  be  more  critical  or  alarming. 
The  social  and  political  compact  was  absolutely  resolved  into  its 
first  elements,  and  il  remained  with  each  individual,  in  these  wide- 
spread communities,  to  determine  in  what  manner,  and  on  what 
terms  he  would  consent  to  renew  this  compact,  and  what  sacrifices 
he  would  make  of  his  private  interests  and  personal  independence 
for  the  general  good." 

"  The  formation  of  the  American  republics  must  ever  be  a  theme 
of  wonder  to  those,  who  judge  of  social  organizations  by  the  annals 

*  By  Jared  Sparks,  Vol.  I.  p.  28- 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  77 

of  past  experience,  and  in  nil  future  time  it  must  constitute  a  novel 
chapter  in  the  history  of  maiilvind." 

"  Wherever  the  power  of  Great  Britain  was  thrown  off  or  disa- 
vowed, all  political  control  passed  by  its  natural  course  into  the 
liands  oi"  the  jieople.  No  man,  or  body  of  men,  had  authority  to 
command  any  other  body  of  men  or  individual  ;  equality  of  rights 
produced  an  equality  of  condition ;  and  the  structure  of  government 
could  only  be  raised  on  the  strength  of  powers  delegated  anew  to 
certain  persons,  for  this  special  purpose,  by  the  willing  voice  of 
the  people,  w4iom  circumstances  had  made  the  sole  arbiters  of  their 
own  political  destiny." 

The  Convention  evinced  their  respect  for  the  author  of  the 
letter,  if  not  for  his  arguments,  by  immediately  passing  an  order 
for  Mr.  Van  Schaack  to  appear  before  them.*  This  order  was 
made  on  the  third  of  February ;  but,  by  some  accident,  it  w^as  not 
received  by  him  until  JMarch  following.  In  the  mean  time  he  had 
proceeded  to  Boston.  The  letters  which  follow  were  written 
during  his  stay  in  Massachusetts. 

TO  MRS.  VAN  SCHAACK. 

Boston,  Sfh  Feb'y,  1777. 

You  will  perceive,  my  dear  wife,  by  the  date  of  this  letter,  that 
we  are  arrived  at  the  place  which  was  destined  for  our  residence. 
The  difficulties  we  have  met  with  on  the  road,  I  have  mentioned  to 
you  in  a  former  letter,  and  such  were  the  delays  they  occasioned 
that  we  arrived  here  only  yesterday.  Thank  God,  we  are  all  in 
health,  and  at  present  in  spirits,  though  the  character  we  came  in 
has  sometimes  very  sensibly  affected  them.  We  must  expect  to 
labor  under  some  disadvantage  in  a  strange  place  on  this  account, 
but  that  deportment,  which  wall  be  my  choice  as  well  as  my  inter- 
est, I  hope  will  remove  those  prejudices  which  the  circumstance 
of  our  hanishment  may  at  first  create. 

I  have  not  time  to  give  you  any  particulars  relating  to  this 
town,  which  at  present  exhibits  a  greater  scene  of  business  than,  I 
believe,  any  place  on  the  continent ;  in  general,  however,  I  must 

*  Vide  Appendix  F. 


78  THELIFEOF 

observe  to  you,  my  dear,  that  such  gentlemen  as  I  have  as  yet 
seen  relative  to  the  business  of  our  coming,  have  behaved  with  the 
utmost  politeness,  and  from  this  specimen  I  doubt  not  but  my  situ- 
ation here  ^vill  be  as  easy  as  the  circumstance  of  my  absence  from 
my  family  and  friends  will  admit  of;  therefore  make  yourself  easy 
on  my  account. 

Thus  have  I  made  out  something  of  a  letter,  and  rely  on  my 
omitting  no  one  opportunity  that  falls  in  my  way,  after  I  am  set- 
tled, which  will  be  in  private  lodgings.  Present  my  duty  to  my 
mother,  and  affectionate  compliments  to  all  my  friends,  and  be- 
lieve me 

Most  affectionately  yours, 

P.  V.  SCHAACK. 

TO  MRS.  VAN  SCHAACK. 

Boston,  10th  Feb'y,  1777. 
My  dear  Wife  : 

I  wrote  you  a  line  last  Saturday.  Our  situation  is  yet  unde- 
termined, but  we  are  not  to  remain  here.  The  Selectmen  refused 
takino;  charcre  of  us,  and  referred  us  to  some  members  of  the  com- 

Do  ' 

mittee,  and  they  to  the  Council  of  the  State,  who,  thinking  this  the 
most  improper  place  we  could  be  at,  on  a  supposition  of  our  being 
dangerous,  have  determined  we  shall  go  to  a  country  town,  and 
fixed  on  Leominster,  about  fifty  miles  from  here.  We  have  no 
other  objection  to  it  than  its  not  being  near  enough  home,  so  that 
w^e  shall  apply  for  a  town  nearer  the  line,  in  which  case  I  mean  to 
send  for  you,  as  soon  as  I  have  fixed  a  place  for  your  reception. 
We  have  been  treated  here  with  a  civility  and  hospitality  that  are 
very  flattering  to  us.  We  see  here  nothing  but  candor  and  human- 
ity, and  no  man  here  is  punished,  as  far  as  I  can  find  out,  who  has 
committed  no  crime.* 

*  It  was  a  beautiful  compliment  to  the  people  of  Massachusetts,  contained 
in  a  letter  written  at  the  close  of  the  Revolution  to  Mr,  Van  Schaack,  then  in 
England,  by  his  brother  Henry,  who  had  taken  up  his  residence  at  Richmond, 
in  Berkshire  county.  "  This  commonwealth  [says  Mr.  Henry  Van  Schaack] 
has  to  boast,  what  perhaps  no  people  on  earth  could  ever  say  before,  and 
which  is,  that  they  have  been  the  prop  of  the  confederacy  in  carrying  on  the 
war,  and  after  a  struggle  of  seven  years,  they  have  established  a  good  govern- 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  79 

Let  me  conclude  with  doing  justice  to  Capt.  Hughes's  polite- 
ness, \vhich  I  hope  will  be  acknowledged  by  all  my  friends,  and 
that  any  civility  they  can  show  to  him,  will  be  readily  done. 

My  duty,  love  and  alTection  to  all  friends.  Heaven  of  his  mercy 
take  you  all  into  his  protection. 

Most  airectionately,  I  am  yours, 

P.  V.  S. 

TO  MRS.  VAN  SCHAACK. 

Leominster,  22d  FeVy,  1777. 

I  was  made  happy  by  the  sight  of  your  letter,  my  dearest  Betsey, 
of  the  11th  inst.,  but  my  joy  was  soon  overclouded  by  the  account 
you  give  me  of  the  fit  you  have  had.  I  hope  it  was  only  occasioned 
by  the  sudden  loss  of  blood,  and  trust  in  God,  that  before  now  you 
are  restored  to  your  usual  state  of  health,  than  \vhich  nothing  can 
more  effectually  afford  consolation  to  me  under  my  present,  or  any 
future  adversity.  We  are  all  perfectly  resigned,  except  on  account 
of  the  distance  from  our  families,  which  may  occasion  such  solemn 
scenes  at  home  without  our  hearing  of  them,  as  we  dare  hardly 
think  of.     Heaven  avert  it  ! 

We  live  here  extremely  retired,  and  under  great  restriction  as  to 
the  liberty  of  going  abroad,  having  but  one  mile  from  home ;  how- 
ever, even  this  w^e  are  contented  with,  except  so  far  as  it  bears  an 
appearance  of  guilt,  W'hich  you  know  has  not  been  as  much  as 
pretended.  We  have  a  very  agreeable  room,  and  are  in  a  most 
obliging,  decent  family,  w4io  study  to  make  our  situation  as  easy 
as  possible  to  us.  As  yet  we  have  made  little  acquaintance,  though 
W'e  have  received  visits  and  a  tender  of  good  offices  from  several 
principal  inhabitants,  particularly  from  Col.  Legate,  a  gentleman 
of  the  first  character  here,  of  w^hom  I  would  say  more  but  that  I 
intend  showing  him  this  letter,  which  he  will  take  the  trouble  of 
looking  over  in  order  by  his  certificate  to  gain  it  a  readier  passport. 

But,  my  dear,  comfortable  as  our  situation  is,  its  great  distance 
from  home  is  such  as  must  deprive  us  of  the  pleasure  of  seeing 

ment,  and  never  executed  a  single  man  for  his  political  principles.  When 
this  fact  is  handed  down  to  posterity  by  the  faithful  pages  of  history,  ages 
hence  will  rank  the  Massachusetts  among  the  first  people  in  the  world.'' 


80  THELIFEOF 

our  families ;  it  is  impossible  that  your  delicate  constitution  can 
undergo  the  fatigue  of  such  a  journey,  nor  if  you  came  could  I  ac- 
commodate you  in  a  proper  manner ;  I  do  not  mean  as  to  elegancies  ; 
these  I  know  you  hold  as  cheap  as  any  body  possibly  can,  but  as 
to  what  to  you  would  be  absolutely  necessaries.  I  could  therefore 
wish,  with  all  my  heart,  that  we  could  be  fixed  at  some  place 
nearer  home ;  if  this  could  be  effected,  I  should  be  very  easy  in  my 
exile,  since  the  severity  exercised  tow^ards  us  by  the  people  of  our 
own  State,  is  such  as  to  make  me  rather  wish  to  change  my  rulers. 
As  people  here  never  see  punishment  inflicted  when  there  is  no 
crime,  they  are  inclined  to  think  charitably  of  our  rulers,  and  to 
suppose  that  as  we  are  "punished,  we  must  necessarily  be  guilty  ; 
however,  this  is  only  the  first  impression,  which  gives  way  to  the 
clearer  evidence  of  fact. 

I  shall  reserve  till  I  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you,  a  detail 
of  the  manner  we  pass  our  time.  Walking,  reading,  writing  and 
conversation  are  the  circle ;  and  I  flatter  myself,  were  I  to  descend 
to  particulars,  you  would  think  our  time  spent  very  innocently  and 
very  rationally,  though  my  removal  from  Boston  has  disappointed 
me  in  the  article  of  books,  which  I  would  have  taken  with  me,  if 
I  had  not  expected  to  have  got  all  I  wanted  in  the  town ;  however, 
Colonel  Legate,  a  gentleman  of  great  reading,  has  offered  us  the 
use  of  his  library.  I  must  forbear  entering  upon  the  subject  of 
family  concerns  or  my  paper  will  be  too  small.  In  short,  assure  all 
my  friends  of  my  love  and  affection. 

I  am,  my  dearest  Betsey, 

Most  affectionately  yours, 

P.  Van  Schaack. 

TO  MRS.  VAN  SCHAACK. 

Leominster,  24//t  Fcb'y,  1777. 
I  wrote  you,  my  dearest  wife,  last  Saturday,  being  the  twenty- 
second  instant,  since  which  nothing  has  happened  to  require  another 
letter ;  but,  as  I  suppose  you  have  equal  pleasure  in  reading  my 
letters  that  I  receive  from  yours,  I  shall  never  want  inducement 
to  write  you.  I  cannot  say  but  your  letter,  which  I  received  from 
the  same  hands  you  delivered  it  to,  has  given  me  great  uneasiness. 
Your  health,  my  dear  Betsey,  is  a  principal  object  of  my  thoughts. 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  81 

because  of  all  worldly  enjoyments  that  is  the  most  important,  and 
as  such  I  hope  you  will  endeavor  to  preserve  it  by  the  utmost  atten- 
tion to  it.  Were  it  not  lor  my  anxiety  on  this  suhject,  1  could 
reconcile  myself  to  my  situation  ;  but  the  fears  which  always 
accompany  my  earnest  hopes  of  seeing  you,  are  a  continual  alloy 
to  all  my  enjoyments,  innocent  as  they  are.  Your  kind  concern 
about  me  makes  a  deep  impression  on  my  mind,  and  if  the  intrinsic 
importance  of  your  advice  could  want  any  thing  to  recommend 
it  to  me,  it  would  be  its  coming  from  a  person  whom  I  have  every 
motive  to  love  and  to  esteem.  Write  me,  therefore,  very  often,  if 
it  is  but  three  lines  at  a  time.  Yours  and  the  children's  health 
will,  I  hope,  always  be  the  subject,  nor  must  you  forget  my  aged 
mother. 

In  my  last,  I  gave  you  such  an  account  of  my  situation  as  to 
preclude  all  hopes  of  seeing  you  here.  My  utmost  wishes  are,  to  be 
removed  so  near  you  as  to  admit  of  your  coming  with  our  effects 
to  my  residence,  and  this  I  hope  will  be  attainable  without  great 
difficulty ;  for,  in  the  name  of  common  sense,  what  difference  will 
it  make  to  the  United  States  whether  we  are  a  hundred  miles  far- 
ther east  or  west,  and  who  ever  would  have  dreamed  that  the 
American  cause  would  be  affected  by  our  being  here  or  there? 
Risum  teneatis  araici?  Tell  Peter  Van  Dyck  to  translate  this 
for  you. 

Monday  moiming,  3d  March. 

"  As  cold  water  to  a  thirsty  soul,  so  is  good  news  from  a  far 
country,"  says  the  wise  man.  Heaven  grant  we  may  soon  experi- 
ence this  pleasure  !  for  we  begin  to  grow  extremely  impatient, 
having  heard  nothing  from  home  since  your  letter  of  the  1 1th  ; — 
indeed,  I  fear  that  we  shall  have  very  few  conveyances  for  letters 
till  May  if  we  remain  here,  this  being  a  place,  as  I  have  told  you 
before,  remote  from  the  post  road.  In  my  last  direction  to  you 
for  sending  your  letters,  I  mentioned  that  it  would  be  best  to  send 
them  to  Westtown,  but  I  find  now  that  there  is  a  greater  com- 
munication between  this  place  and  Worcester,  so  that  it  will  be 
best  to  let  them  be  left  there,  and  you  may  put  them  under  cover 
to  Thomas  Legate,  Esq.,  of  this  place,  and  direct  them  to  be  left 
at  the  Worcester  post-office,  there  being  a  regular  post  from  that 
place  to  this,  and  the  distance  about  fifteen  miles.     I\Iention  these 

11 


82  THELIFEOF 

particulars  to  the  rest  of  my  correspondents.  Tell  Harry  and 
David  that  I  shall  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  their  letters  when  a 
direct  opportunity  otTers,  having  now  nothing  of  consequence  to 
write  them  ;  communicate  the  same  to  Doctor  Van  Dyck,  w^hen 
you  see  him,  with  my  best  respects  to  him,  his  good  lady  and  my 
namesake. 

Remember  me  most  affectionately  to  my  mother,  and  all  the 
dilTerent  branches  of  the  family,  and  likewise  to  your  uncle  and 
aunt.    Kiss  Harry  and  the  little  one  for  me. 
I  am,  my  dearest  Betsey, 

Yours  most  affectionately, 

P.    V.    SCHAACK. 


TO 


Leominster,  1th  March,  1777. 
Dear  Cousin  :* 

If  I  have  not  reproached  myself  several  times  for  not  writing 
you  as  I  promised,  I  have  at  least  been  uneasy  that  I  have  not  done 
it — not  that  the  neglect  was  wilful,  or  that  I  am  without  reasons 
to  apologize  for  my  silence.  Far  from  it.  I  could  give  you  a  de- 
tail which  would  fully  satisfy  you,  but  that  it  would  be  unentertain- 
ing  ;  you  must  therefore  accept  of  my  word  instead  of  proof.  If, 
then,  I  had  such  cogent  reasons  for  my  silence,  it  might  be  asked, 
whence  arose  my  uneasiness  about  it ;  a  promise  of  this  kind  in 
the  nature  of  it  being  conditional,  and  implying  a  right  of  dispens- 
ing with  it  when  it  could  not  be  complied  with  w^ithout  great  in- 
convenience ?  I  say,  this  might  be  asked,  but  not  by  you,  I  am 
sure ;  whose  mind  has  been  so  early  tinctured  with  the  principles 
not  only  of  virtue,  but  of  honor,  the  handmaid  of  virtue,  that  you  will 
easily  account  for  the  uneasiness  which  is  felt  at  the  bare  appear- 
ance of  inattention,  in  a  case  of  so  delicate  a  nature  as  that  of  a 
promise.  To  a  young  gentleman  it  should  be  inculcated  as  a  prin- 
ciple, that  the  least  violation  of  a  promise  should  be  viewed  with 
horror,  and  that  his  mind,  in  this  respect,  should  be  so  pure  as  not 
only  to  be  "  innocent,  but  even  unsuspected." 

The  first  object  of  attention,  indeed,  in  morals,  is  the   appro- 

*  Some  young  friend. 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  83 

bation  of  one's  own  conscience,  and  the  greatest  happiness,  the  mens 
s^ibi  coiiscia  recti  ;  but  a  res])c(:ttul  regard  to  ap})earances,  as  they 
relate  to  the  opinion  of  others,  will  also  have  great  weight  on  the 
conduct  of  a  man  of  sensibility.  JVegligere  quid  de  se  quisque  sen- 
tiat,  non  solum  arrogantis  est^  sed  eticwi  omnino  dissoluti.  Thus 
much  by  way  of  preamble  to  a  correspondence,  which  I  hope  will 
be  punctually  maintained  by  you. 

I  wrote  your  good  papa  while  I  was  at  Boston,  and  doubtless 
you  have  heard  of  my  removal ;  had  I  remained  there,  I  should 
have  had  more  subjects  for  writing,  as  well  as  more  frequent  con- 
veyances for  my  letters.  That  town,  the  capital  not  only  of  this 
State  but  of  all  New  England,  is  situated  on  a  peninsula  communi- 
cating with  the  main  land  by  a  narrow  neck  upwards  of  a  mile 
long,  which  is  all  paved.  The  town  is  about  as  large  as  New- 
York,  full  as  compact,  and  the  streets  as  irregular ;  the  most  con- 
spicuous pubhc  buildings  are  the  Town-house,  in  which  the  general 
court  sits,  and  Faneuil  Hall,  where  public  town  meetings  are  held, 
and  in  which  we  attended  the  selectmen.  On  the  west  side  of  the 
town  is  Beacon  Hill,  a  very  high  eminence,  w^hich  commands  a 
most  extensive  and  delightful  prospect  of  the  harbor  on  the  south, 
which  is  interspersed  with  a  great  number  of  islands,  among  which 
is  that  whereon  the  castle  stands.  On  the  east,  you  see  the  ruins 
of  Charlestown  and  Bunker's  Hill,  rendered  famous  by  the  blood 
which  was  shed  on  it,  in  the  battle,  the  17th  June,  1775 ;  and  to 
the  northward  is  Cambridge,  a  beautiful  little  town,  in  w^hich  is  a 
famous  college.  From  this  eminence  there  is  a  view^  of  a  great 
extent  of  country,  Roxbury,  Dorchester,  &c.,  at  which  places,  as 
well  as  on  the  neck.  Bunker  Hill,  &c.,  are  a  number  of  fortifica- 
tions, erected  during  the  two  last  campaigns. 

This  State  is  very  extensive  and  extremely  populous,  containing 
a  great  number  of  towns,  which  along  the  road  we  came  are  almost 
all  thickly  settled.  Of  the  government  and  police  of  this  State  I 
shall  say  but  little,  though  it  is  a  subject  most  worthy  the  inquiry 
of  a  young  gentleman  whose  education  qualifies  him  for  the  know- 
ledge of  politics,  and  who  may  one  day  be  led  to  hold  a  public 
office ;  I  cannot  however  help  observing,  that  most  offices  here  are 
elective,  and  the  representation  more  complete  than  in  any  State  I 
have  known;  the  duration  of  representative  bodies  is  short,  by 


84  THELIFEOF 

which  means  they  are  continually  reminded  of  their  dependence  on 
the  people,  -which  is  the  only  source  from  whence  all  power  in  civil 
society  is  derived. 

I  have  now  given  you  a  specimen  of  my  disposition  to  cultivate 
a  correspondence  with  you,  and  hope  you  will  discover  the  like. 
Pray  do  not  be  sparing  of  your  pen  and  ink.  Your  time  you  can- 
not better  employ  than  in  epistohzing  in  the  unreserved  familiarity 
of  friendship.  Such  an  intercourse  will  assist  your  invention,  ena- 
ble you  to  methodize  your  thoughts,  and  accustom  you  to  express 
yourself  with  ease  and  correctness.  By  the  by,  let  me  recommend 
to  you  the  reading  of  the  hrst  volume  of  the  Prceceptor,  wherein 
you  will  find  some  hints  on  this  subject  well  v/orth  your  attention, 
and  exemplified  by  several  letters  of  some  of  the  greatest  geniuses 
of  the  present  century. 

I  hope  you  will  not  fail  writing  me  often ;  for  hearing  of  the 
"welfare  of  friends,  to  those  who,  as  the  poet  says,  are  "  eating  the 
bitter  bread  of  banishment,"  is  of  all  other  consolations  the  greatest. 
Present  my  respects  to  your  papa  and  mamma,  and  your  aunt  over 
the  way,  to  whom  I  have  not  been  able,  as  you  may  judge,  to 
perform  my  promise  of  sending  them  some  oranges,  &c. 

The  confusion  attendant  upon  the  removal  of  the  Convention 
from  Fishkill,  (which  took  place  on  the  fourteenth  of  February,) 
and  their  reassembling  five  days  afterwards  at  Kingston,  may 
account  for  their  omission  to  transmit  to  Mr.  Van  Schaack  their 
order  for  his  attendance.  Mrs.  Van  Schaack,  (whose  anxiety, 
increased  by  her  delicate  state  of  health,  on  account  of  her  hus- 
band's absence,  will  be  appreciated,)  having  accidentally  heard  of 
the  order,  wrote  to  Mr.  Jay  for  a  copy. 

JOHN  JAY  TO  MRS.   VAN  SCHAACK. 

Fishkill,  12th  March,  1777. 
Dear  Madam  : 

Your  letter  of  the  third  inst.  was  sent  me  a  few  days  ago  by 
Mr.  Robert  Benson,  at  Kingston.  He  informs  me  that  the  Con- 
vention, understanding  that  it  related  to  business  of  a  public  nature, 
opened  it ;  and  that,  agreeably  to  your  request,  a  copy  of  the  order 
for  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  appearance  was  immediately  transmitted  to 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  85 

you.  I  am  at  a  loss  to  account  for  its  being  so  long  delayed. 
The  order  was  passed  before  the  Convention  removed  from  this 
place.    Had  I  suspected  the  neglect,  it  would  have  been  prevented. 

1  am  exceedingly  sorry  to  hear  of  the  indisposition  of  one  of 
the  children,  and  feel  very  sensibly  the  distress  which  Mr.  Van 
Schaack's  absence  must  occasion  you.  I  flatter  myself  it  will  not 
be  of  long  duration,  and  sincerely  hope,  as  he  will  now  have  his 
election,  that  he  will  prevail  on  himself  to  join  with,  and  remain 
in  the  country.  INIrs.  Jay  continues  to  recover  slowly  from  the  ef- 
fects of  her  former  indisposition.  She  presents  her  compliments 
to  you. 

I  am,  dear  madam,  with  great  truth, 

Your  friend  and  humble  serv't, 

John  Jay. 

P.  S.  I  shall  set  out  for  Kingston  to-morrows 

On  the  fourth  of  April,  Mr.  Van  Schaack  appeared  in  person 
before  the  Convention,  and  that  body  passed  the  following  order : 

"  Whereas  many  important  affairs  highly  interesting  to  the 
public,  at  present  so  engross  the  attention  of  this  house,  as  not  to 
admit  of  their  proceeding  to  a  consideration  of  the  memorial  of 
Peter  Van  Schaack,  Esq., 

"  Resolved,  That  the  said  Peter  Van  Schaack  return  to  his 
usual  place  of  abode,  on  his  parole,  to  remain  there  till  the  fur- 
ther order  of  this  house,  or  future  executive  power  of  the  State  ; 
and  in  the  mean  time,  neither  directly  or  indirectly,  to  do  or  say 
any  thing  to  the  prejudice  of  the  American  cause  ;  and  that  one  of 
the  secretaries  do  take  the  said  parole."* 

It  is  not  a  little  remarkable,  that  after  having  been  so  uncere- 
moniously banished  to  another  State  by  the  Convention's  Commit- 
tee, and  hurried  off  to  Boston  without  even  giving  him  time  to 
arrange  his  private  affairs,  Mr.  Van  Schaack  should  have  been  re- 
called by  the  Convention,  upon  his  own  letter,  and,  at  a  most  crit- 
ical conjuncture  of  American  affairs,  directed  to  repair  to  his  usual 
place  of  residence  near  Hudson's  river,  without  any  investigation, 
and  there  suffered  to  remain  unmolested  for  more  than   a  year, 

*  See  Appendix  G,  for  parole. 


86  THELIFEOF 

upon  his  individual  parole  of  honor !  The  Convention  could 
scarcely  have  deemed  him  a  very  dangerous  man ;  if,  indeed,  they 
were  not  staggered  by  his  arguments,  which  is  understood  to  have 
been  the  fact. 

The  interesting  essay  which  follows,  is  a  pleasing  specimen 
of  refined  sentiment,  and  chaste  writing.  It  appears  to  have  been 
"  written  at  Kinderhook,  and  occasioned  by  a  particular  conversa- 
tion, in  August,  1777." 

"  ^JVullius  addictus  jurare  in  verba  magistrV 

"  Civil  wars  arise  from  a  difference  of  opinion  between  mem- 
bers of  the  same  political  community,  respecting  the  extent  of  the 
reciprocal  rights  and  duties  of  the  sovereign  power,  and  its  sub- 
jects. When  the  one  side  thinks  the  rule  of  right  has  been  trans- 
gressed by  government  to  a  certain  degree,  they  resist  what  they 
think  a  usurpation,  or  an  unlaw^ful  exercise  of  power ;  the  other 
side,  conceiving  no  wrong  done,  or  not  to  a  degree  to  justify  resist- 
ance, supports,  or  at  least  adheres  to  the  government.  We  all 
know  that  governments  have  been  opposed  without  sufficient  cause 
in  some  instances,  and  in  others  they  have  been  supported  when 
there  was  cause  to  justify  resistance.  The  precise  dividing  points 
between  the  lawfulness  and  the  criminality  of  opposition  cannot 
be  ascertained ;  it  being  a  question  mixed  of  right  and  fact,  and 
as  different  minds  w^ill  draw  different  conclusions  in  the  balancing 
of  facts,  they  will  apply  the  rule  of  right  differently,  and  hence 
it  is  no  wonder  there  should  be  a  contrariety  of  sentiment. 

"  That  legitimate  governments  should  be  supported,  and  that 
tyranny  may  be  opposed,  are  principles  equally  incontestable ;  but 
what  in  fact  is  the  one  or  the  other,  is  left  to  the  private  judgment  of 
every  individual,  who  is  accountable  for  his  errors  either  in  foro 
conscientics,  as  for  the  violation  of  a  moral  duty,  or  in  foro  humano, 
as  for  the  transgression  of  some  civil  obligation,  or  in  both,  accord- 
ing to  the  nature  of  the  case. 

"  If  it  be  true,  in  the  abstract,  that  government  should  be  sup- 
ported until  it  violates  its  contract  with  the  people,  then,  to  charge 
a  man  with  want  of  principle  who  refuses  to  join  in  opposition  to 
it,  is  illiberal ;  to  punish  him,  is  intolerance  and  persecution.  On 
the  other  hand,  it  it  is  true  in  the  abstract,  that  government  may  be 


PETER     VAN     SC  11  AACK.  87 

opposed  when  it  transgresses  to  a  certain  degree,  then,  to  charge  the 
supporters  of  opposition,  in  a  particular  case,  with  want  of  princi- 
ple, merely  for  that  opposition,  or  merely  for  pursuing  measures 
necessarily  connected  with  it,  is  equally  illiberal,  though,  for  the 
reasons  hereafter  mentioned,  punishment  may  be  justifiable  from 
the  necessity  of  the  case. 

"  We  may  think  our  opponents  WTong,  and  be  justifiable  in  think- 
in""  them  so,  but  it  is  uncharitable  to  charge  them  with  want  of 
principle  for  their  difference  in  opinion  from  us.  A  man  may  err, 
and  yet,  having  taken  all  due  pains  to  inform  his  mind,  he  may  be 
innocent.  As  when  he  acts  against  the  light  of  his  own  conviction, 
he  is  in  a  moral  view  criminal,  though  he  should  even  take  the  side 
which  in  itself  is  right.  How,  then,  are  we  to  act,  and  by  what 
rule  shall  we  determine  which  of  the  contending  parties  is  right  ? 
The  answer  is  plain  :  we  must  impartially  consider  the  question, 
and  found  the  dictates  of  our  own  judgment  upon  the  result  of  a 
fair  inquiry.  If  we  err,  having  taken  due  means  of  information,  it 
is  not  our  fault,  but  our  weakness — humanum  est  errare  et  nescire. 
May  then  both  parties  be  right  ?  No,  but  individuals  may  be  inno- 
cent on  either  side,  though  opposites.  Hampden  and  Falkland 
took  opposite  sides,  but  who  so  bigoted  as  to  charge  either  with 
want  of  principle  in  the  part  he  acted  ? 

"  Has  a  man  a  right,  then,  to  charge  me  \vith  acting  a  corrupt 
part  because  he  is  fully  convinced  of  the  justice  of  his  own  cause, 
and  the  error  of  mine  ?  The  negative  of  this  is  evident,  because  I 
may  insist  upon  the  same  right  myself  against  him  ;  but  should  I  do 
so,  he  would  charge  me  with  violating  the  sacred  right  of  private 
judgment,  and  so  do  I  him.  I  would  ask,  who  has  constituted  you 
the  judge  of  the  rule  of  right  for  me,  and  what  claim  have  you  to 
infallibility  ?  Do  you  not  differ  in  opinion  as  much  from  me  as  I 
do  from  you,  and  have  I  not  as  much  right  to  blame  you  as  you 
have  me  for  this  difference  ?  In  short,  every  one  of  your  charges 
may  be  retorted  on  yourself,  and  this  should  teach  you  a  lesson  of 
toleration  and  forbearance,  of  doing  as  you  would  be  done  by,  and 
of  judging  as  you  would  be  judged  of. 

"  However,  this  charitable  construction  of  the  motives  of  our 
opponents  can  obtain  only  while  they  pursue  fair  means— rec/i^m 
recte,  legitimum  legitime.     But  when  they  are  guilty  of  using 


88  THELIFEOF 

means  which  no  end  can  justify,  being  in  themselves  bad,  and 
opposite  to  the  natural  or  revealed  laws  of  God,  we  must  then 
consider  their  actions  as  stronger  indications  of  the  temper  of  their 
minds  than  words,  and  form  an  estimate  of  them  accordingly ;  but 
even  then  it  may  be  well  for  us  to  reflect,  whether  some  irregu- 
larities may  not  proceed  from  the  difficulty  of  the  times,  and  the 
frailty  of  human  nature,  rather  than  any  peculia?'  depravity  of  heart, 
and  to  recur  to  the  history  of  other  ages  and  countries,  wherein 
examples  have  not  been  wanting  of  persons  of  eminent  characters, 
yielding  to  the  violence  of  the  times,  in  violation  of  their  better 
principles. 

"  This  much  may  suffice,  considering  this  subject  in  a  moral  view, 
and  how  far  we  may,  consistent  with  the  principles  of  Christian 
charity,  charge  those  differing  from  us  with  being  influenced  by 
wicked  motives ; — what  conduct  may  be  observed  towards  them  as 
members  of  society,  is  quite  another  question. 

"  In  civil  wars,  I  hold  it  there  can  be  no  neutrality  ;  in  mind  I 
mean.  Every  man  must  wish  one  side  or  the  other  to  prevail,  and 
if  it  was  in  his  power  to  make  the  scale  preponderate,  he  would 
not  withhold  his  mite.  If  possibly  there  should  be  some  excep- 
tions, they  are  so  few  as  rather  to  prove  than  invalidate  the  princi- 
ple ;  and  these  singular  cases  cannot  be  an  object  of  general  regu- 
lation. The  ruling  powers,  therefore,  have  a  right  to  consider 
every  person,  who  does  not  join  them  in  action,  as  averse  to  them 
in  opinion  ;  which  will  appear  the  more  reasonable,  as  civil  com- 
motions are  of  such  a  nature  as  to  give  life  and  activity  to  the 
most  powerful  affections  of  the  human  mind. 

"Have  they  then  a  right  io  jmnish  a  mere  difference  of  senti- 
^  ment  l  By  no  means.  Punishment,  as  such,  is  due  only  to  overt 
acts,  to  the  transgression  of  some  known  law  ;  and  that  there  may 
be  a  strict  neutrality  in  practice,  is  beyond  dispute. 

"  Here  a  distinction  occurs  between  the  rights  of  the  govern- 
ment which  is  resisted,  and  of  those  in  power  making  the  resist- 
ance. The  latter  can  only  be  considered  a  voluntary  association, 
having  right  to  command  the  active  personal  services  of  such  alone 
as  have  joined  them,  though  they  may  punish  the  transgressions 
and  overt  acts  oi  others  committed  within  then' jurisdiction  ;  but  it 
is  their  indispensable  duty,  to  permit  every  man  to  join  the  side  of 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  89 

government  who  ehooses  it ;  or  if,  for  prudential  reasons,  they  would 
restrain  the  adherents  of  government  from  this  their  undoubted 
right  of  election,  they  ought  to  exempt  such  from  the  active  obe- 
dience of  subjects,  and  at  most  consider  them  as  prisoners  of  war, 
and  lay  them  under  restraints  proper  to  that  situation ;  but  in  this, 
as  in  every  other  instance  of  power  exerted  by  one  fellow  creature 
over  another  born  to  equal  rights,  no  further  restraints  are  justifi- 
able than?iece5«7y,  under  all  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  requires 
for  the  public  safety. 

"  The  old  government,  on  the  other  hand,  has  a  right  to  consider 
all  its  former  subjects  still  as  such,  and  to  punish  the  delinquents 
against  the  laws  of  that  government ;  for  when  the  rights  of  gov- 
ernment, as  such,  interfere  with  the  private  judgments  of  individ- 
uals, the  latter,  from  the  necessity  of  the  case,  and  the  impossibility 
of  reconciling,  in  this  instance,  public  with  private  rights,  must 
yield;  always  understood  that  persons  refusing  compliance  are  pun- 
ishable only  according  to  the  laws  in  being. 

"  When  I  speak  of  the  rights  of  government,  and  of  those  in 
resistance  to  it,  it  may  be  objected  that  right  cannot  be  on  both 
sides ;  that  either  the  government  is  dissolved,  and  then  its  author- 
ity is  at  an  end,  or  it  is  in  force,  and  then  opposition  to  it  is  rebel- 
lion.    This  requires  explanation. 

"  That  one  side  or  the  other  is  WTong  is  certain,  because  of  "1 
contradictory  propositions  one  or  the  other  must  be  false  ;  but  to 
decide  which  this  is,  is  in  the  power  of  Omniscience  alone :  with 
us  it  is  matter  of  opinion  only ;  in  our  opinions  we  differ,  and  to 
the  Almighty  is  the  appeal  made.  Before  the  decision  is  made, 
we  can  only  say  that  we  have  a  full  persuasion,  and  that  our 
minds  are  fully  convinced,  and  according  to  that  persuasion  and 
that  conviction  that  w^e  have  embraced  our  side.  Our  opponents 
claim  the  same  right,  and  with  equal  justice  ;  nor  can  either  party 
justly  charge  with  want  of  principle,  or  pimish  the  other,  merely 
for  this  difference  of  sentiment.  Till  the  end  of  the  contest,  there- 
fore, we  may  speak  of  the  right  of  either  party  though  in  direct 
opposition  to  each  other,  treason  and  loyalty  being  one  thing 
with  the  one  party,  and  the  reverse  with  the  other. 

"  Government  asserts  its  authority  and  insists  upon  the  resist- 
ance to  be  rebellion ;  every  thing,  therefore,  that  a  government 

12 


90  THELIFEOF 

can  lawfully  do  to  quell  a  rebellion,  I  term  right  in  a  relative 
sense.  The  opposition  declare  the  government  dissolved,  and  the 
subjects  therefore  released  from  their  allegiance  ;  every  thing,  there- 
fore, that  a  people  in  such  a  case  have  a  right  to  do,  I  also  call 
justifiable ;  I  mean  while  the  war  is  depending,  for  if  the  end  is 
just,  (which  the  case  supposes,)  the  means  necessary*  to  effect  it 
cannot  be  wicked.  But  as  soon  as  the  contest  is  ended,  then 
every  thing  done  by  the  vanquished  party,  by  a  retrospective  view, 
is  tainted  with  guilt.  If  the  government  fail,  it  is  then  a  revolu- 
tion by  the  abolition  of  arbitrary  power ;  if  the  other,  it  is  then 
treason  against  legal  government. 

"  But  is  the  event  always  right  1  have  the  asserters  of  freedom 
never  failed,  and  have  tyrants  never  succeeded  ?  God  forbid  this 
should  be  as  asserted ;  history  is  full  of  the  most  glorious  efforts 
proving  abortive,  and  of  the  most  flagitious  which  have  been 
crowned  with  unmerited  success.  I  only  declare  how  these  mat- 
ters really  operate,  and  how  in  fact  and  from  the  necessity  of  the 
case,  they  are  considered  among  mankind,  when  there  is  no 
earthly  umpire  between  the  contending  parties. 

"  But  our  opinions  we  still  may  enjoy  unaltered  by  the  event, 
and  if  they  have  been  formed  w^ith  due  care,  and  been  supported 
only  by  justifiable  means,  we  shall  stand  acquitted  for  them  at  the 
solemn  tribunal  of  the  Searcher  of  hearts,  though  we  may  suffer 
for  them  here,  where  our  motives  cannot  be  known,  and  where  our 
actions  are  to  be  canvassed  by  judges  fallible  as  ourselves. 

^'  It  may  be  said,  that  if  every  man  has  a  right  to  judge  for  him- 
self of  the  side  he  is  to  take,  and  if  we  may  not  justly  charge  him 
with  acting  from  corrupt  motives  because  we  cannot  pry  into  them, 
how  can  any  man  be  liable  to  punishment,  which  can  only  be  in- 
flicted for  acts  of  the  will,  and  not  for  errors  of  the  understanding, 
if  he  fails  ?  Does  the  nature  of  the  action  vary  from  the  acciden- 
tal circumstances  of  its  being  successful  or  otherwise  ?  To  this  I 
answer,  that  I  only  insist  that  we  have  no  right  to  charge  him  with 

*  "  It  cannot  be  inferred  from  this,  that  every  means  of  frrrt/  Arnjc?,  without 
regard  to  the  principles  of  natural  justice  and  the  laws  of  nations,  are  au- 
thorized ;  on  the  contrary,  it  can  only  be  understood  to  mean  lawful  means, 
measured  by  those  established  rules  :  for  when  an  end  can  be  attained  only 
by  means  in  themselves  unlawful,  that  end  is  itself  unjustifiable  The  prop- 
osition must  always  be  understood  in  a  moral  as  well  as  physical  sense." 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  91 

moral  turpitude;  his  motives  can  be  known  only  to  the  Supreme 
Being,  and  by  him  only  punislied.  But,  as  a  member  of  society, 
be  his  intentions  never  so  pure,  he  is  amenable  to  those  known 
laws  which  he  has  transgressed.  Human  judicatories  cannot  judge 
of  his  motives,  as  such,  but  ihey  may  and  must  judge  of  his  actions, 
or  there  is  an  end  of  society;  and  according  to  what  laws  will  his 
conduct  be  tried,  but  according  to  the  laws  and  rules  of  that  power 
which  has  the  sword  ? 

"  Upon  the  whole,  I  contend  only  against  a  spirit  of  intole- 
rance, which  in  theory  opposes  the  doctrine  of  Christian  charity, 
(a  doctrine  so  friendly  to  this  state  of  human  infirmity,)  and  in 
practice  leads  directly  to  persecution  ;  nor  under  pretence  of  mutual 
toleration  and  forbearance,  would  I  w-rest  from  the  civil  magis- 
trate either  the  '  balance  or  the  rod.'  I  would  hold  up  his  jurisdic- 
tion in  its  full  extent,  and  though  a  man  acted  from  motives  pure 
as  an  angel's,  yet  if  in  practice  he  violated  the  laws  of  the  society 
he  lives  in,  he  is  a  proper  object  of  punishment. 

'  If  I  am  right,  O,  teach  my  heart 

Still  in  the  right  to  stay  ; 
If  I   am  wrong,  thy  grace  impart 

To  find  that  better  way!'" 

We  find  upon  this  production  the  following  indorsements,  made 
by  Mr.  Van  Schaack,  at  different  periods. 

"  Jfew-York,  \st  Oct.,  1778. 
^Hoc  tempore  nihil  scrihi  aut  agi  potest,  quod  non  pateat  ca- 
lumnice  ;  nee  raroft,  ut  dum  agis  circumspectissime,  utramque  par- 
tem offendas,  quum  in  utraque  pariter  insaniant.^  Erasjius. 

"  London,  Sth  Sept.,  1779. 
*  The  conversation  we  have  had,  as  well  as  the  reflections  of 
my  own  mind  on  past  events,  w^ould,  if  I  w-ere  condemned  to  my 
body  again,  teach  me  great  moderation,  in  my  judgment  of  per- 
sons w^ho  might  happen  to  diflfer  from  me  in  diflicult  scenes  of  pub- 
lic action :  they  would  entirely  cure  me  of  the  spirit  of  party,  and 
make  me  think  that,  as  in  the  church  so  also  in  the  state,  no  evil 
is  more  to  be  feared  than  a  rancorous  and  enthusiastic  zeal.' — 
Litt.  Dial,  of  the  Dead, — Lord  Falkland  and  Mr.  Hampden, 


92  THELIFEOF 

']n  faith  and  hope  the  world  ^vill  disagree, 
But  all  mankind's  concern  is  charity. 
All  must  be  false  that  thwart  this  one  great  end, 
And  all  of  God  that  bless  mankind,  or  mend.' — Pope. 

*  Both  acting  out  of  principle,  and  equally  men  of  honor.' — 
Pope. 

'  Parties  ran  so  high,  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Anne,  as  to  allow 
no  commendation  to  an  opposite  in  politics.' — Warh.  JYot.  onPope^s 
Essay  on  Criticism. 

'  We  see  men  at  their  whole  length  in  history,  and  we  see 
them  generally  there,  through  a  medium  less  partial  at  least  than 
that  of  experience ;  for  I  imagine,  that  a  whig  or  a  tory,  whilst 
those  parties  subsisted,  would  have  condemned  in  Saturninus  the 
spirit  of  faction  which  he  applauded  in  his  own  tribunes,  and  would 
have  applauded,  in  Drusus,  the  spirit  of  moderation  which  he 
despised  in  those  of  the  contrary  party,  and  which  he  suspected 
and  hated  in  those  of  his  own.' — Bolingb.  Lett.  Wth  on  History — 
Vattel,  Vol.  II.  p.  108  seq. 

Great  was  the  terror  and  dismay  into  which  the  inhabitants  of 
the  city  of  Albany  and  of  the  surrounding  country  were  thrown, 
in  the  months  of  August,  September  and  October,  1777.     Colonel 
St.  Leger,  with  the  forces  under  his  command,  composed  chiefly  of 
Indians,  was  invading  the  State  by  way  of  Oswego  and  the  Mo- 
hawk river.     General  Burgoyne,  with   a  formidable  army,  was 
approaching  Albany  by  way  of  Lake  Champlain,  and  the  British 
fleet  under  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  having  on  board  a  strong  land  force, 
were  preparing  to  ascend  the  Hudson.     The  Albany  committee, 
"  in  consideration  of  the  present  distressed  situation  of  the  country," 
voted,  that  the  welfare  of  the  State  required  that  the  Council  of 
Safety  should  come  and  sit  at  Albany ;  and  they  "  resolved,  that 
the  quarter-master  and  the  committee  appointed  to  take  the  lead 
out  of  the  windows,  do  immediately  enter  upon  that  necessary 
business."     In  October,  as  the  British  forces  from'New-York  were 
moving  up  the  Hudson  river,  with  a  view  to  a  junction  with  Gen- 
eral Burgoyne,  laying  waste  all  before  them,  the  terrified  inhabit- 
ants of  Albany  were  fleeing,  in  all  directions,  for  escape  from  the 
advancing  foe. 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  93 

The  retreat  of  St.  Leger,  in  the  latter  part  of  August,  and  the 
consequent  relief  of  Fort  Schuyler  and  the  Mohawk  valley,  Avas 
succeeded,  in  October,  by  the  more  decisive  capture  of  the  British 
army,  at  Saratoga.  This  gave  a  new  and  flattering  aspect  to 
American  affairs.  The  latter  event  called  into  exercise  that  masfna- 
nimity,  and  noble  generosity,  which  formed  such  prominent  traits  in 
the  character  of  Philip  Schuyler.  Upon  no  occasion  w^ere  these 
enviable  characteristics  of  that  remarkable  man,  and  brave  soldier — 
to  whose  memory  the  literature  of  his  country  has  not  yet  awarded 
the  justice  of  a  biography — more  conspicuous,  than  when  the  for- 
tunes of  war  had  placed  in  his  power  an  overbearing  foe.  Upon  the 
surrender  of  General  Burgoyne,  and  the  royal  army  under  his  com- 
mand, to  the  American  forces  at  Saratoga,  General  Schuyler  made 
studious  provision  for  the  comfort  of  the  distinguished  captive,  \vith 
some  other  British  and  German  officers,  under  his  own  hospitable 
roof  at  Albany,  whither  they  were  conducted  soon  after  the  capitu- 
lation. These  guests,  it  should  be  remembered,  had  but  a  few  days 
before  applied  the  torch  to  the  valuable  mills,  country  seat,  and 
other  buildings  at  Saratoga,  of  their  now  attentive  host. 

The  British  General  entered  Albany  in  a  very  different  man- 
ner from  that  which  he  had  anticipated.  Flushed  by  his  early 
successes  in  his  progress  from  the  North,  he  had  in  his  windy  man- 
ifestos proclaimed  an  easy  victory  ;  and  he  was  understood  to  have 
boasted  of  his  ability  to  secure  "  elbow-room''^  for  his  troops,  to  the 
contemplated  point  of  junction  of  the  two  royal  armies.  When  he  en- 
tered that  city  as  a  prisoner  of  war,  instead  of  a  "  conquering  hero," 
the  progress  of  the  procession  was  suddenly  retarded  in  a  confined 
passage  of  one  of  the  streets,  by  the  immense  concourse  of  citizens, 
who  turned  out  en  masse  to  behold  the  joyful  spectacle.  At  this 
juncture,  a  spirited  Dutch  matron,  standing  at  the  door  of  her 
dwelling,  and  in  hearing  of  the  humbled  Briton,  called  out  to  the 
crowd,  (with  perhaps  as  much  rudeness  as  severity,)  "  Make  el- 
bow-room for  General  Burgoyne.''^ 

A  little  incident,  also,  occurred  during  the  stay  of  Burgoyne  and 
his  officers  at  General  Schuyler's,  which  is  worthy  of  mention. 
Major  General  the  Baron  de  Reidesdel,  one  of  those  officers,  was 
accompanied  by  his  lady,  and  several  young  children.  Not  long 
after  their  arrival,  one  of  Madame  De  Reidesdel's  little  girls,  after 


94  THELIFEOF 

frolicking  about  General  Schuyler's  spacious  and  well-furnished 
mansion,  ran  up  to  her  mother,  and  with  all  the  simplicity  of  youth- 
ful innocence,  inquired  in  German :  "  .Mother,  is  this  the  palace 
father  vas  to  have  when  he  came  to  Am  erica  V  The  blushing 
Baroness  speedily  silenced  her  child.  The  teeming  question,  which 
was  asked  in  presence  of  some  of  General  Schuyler's  family,  by 
whom  the  German  was  understood,  as  may  be  imagined,  was  well 
calculated  to  disconcert  her. 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  95 


C  H  A  P  T  E  R    V. 

The  state  of  Mrs.  Van  Schaack's  health,  which  for  some  time 
previous  had  been  gradually  dechning,  became  very  alarming  in 
March,  1778.  She  was  exceedingly  desirous  of  visiting  the  city  of 
her  nativity,  and,  in  the  peculiar  state  of  her  mind,  it  was  also  the 
opinion  of  her  physicians,  that  her  native  air  and  proximity  to  the 
sea  might  produce  more  beneficial  effects  than  all  the  powers  of 
medicine. 

The  city  of  New-York  was  then  a  British  garrison,  intercourse 
with  which  w^as  inhibited.  Under  these  circumstances,  Mr.  Van 
Schaack  made  application  to  the  Governor  of  New^-York,  for  per- 
mission to  visit  the  city  with  his  suffering  wife.  The  correspondence^ 
on  this  subject,  w^hich  was  carried  on  through  Mr.  Jay,  (who  w^as 
the  Governor's  private  secretary,)  is  interesting  in  itself,  and  as 
elucidating  the  privations  of  civil  warSi  — 

TO  JOHN  JAY. 

Kinderhook,  18th  March,  1778. 
SiK  : 

The  declining  state  of  health,  which  Mrs.  Van  Schaack  has  long 
labored  under,  and  which  of  late  has  become  more  threatening  in 
consequence  of  a  violent  cough,  slow  fever,  and  other  consumptive 
symptoms,  has  made  her  extremely  anxious  to  go  down  to  New- 
York  and  Long  Island,  in  hopes  that  the  change  of  air  and  the 
sight  of  her  friends,  may  contribute  to  her  recovery  from  a  disorder 
which  has  hitherto  baiiled  the  power  of  medicine.  In  consequence 
of  her  importunity,  therefore,  I  take  the  liberty  of  troubhng  you 
with  the  delivery  of  the  inclosed  petition  to  the  Governor. 

I  own  to  you,  sir,  I  have  felt  some  embarrassments  on  this  occa- 
sion, and  would  have  prevailed  on  her  to  make  the  application  for 
herself  only  ;  but  as  she  declines  going  without  mc,  on  account  of 


\ 


96  THELIFEOF 

her  precarious  situation,  and  the  uneasiness  of  mind  which,  in  those 
circumstances,  in  absence  she  would  labor  under  ;  and  as  her  go- 
ing down  is  nevertheless  recommended  by  her  physicians  as  prom- 
ising very  salutary  effects,  I  have  determined  at  least  not  to  be 
wanting  to  myself,  and  to  save  my  mind  from  that  regret  which  I 
should  feel  in  case  of  a  calamity,  which  I  might  hereafter  have 
reason  to  think  I  had  omitted  any  means  in  my  power  to  prevent. 

I  therefore  trust  this  to  your  candid  interpretation  of  the  true 
motives  of  it,  assuring  you  that  I  am,  from  principle,  as  much  as 
any  person  can  be,  averse  from  soliciting  any  thing  of  a  gentleman 
in  a  public  character,  which  it  would  be  inconsistent  with  his 
station  to  comply  wdth  ;  nor  w^ould  I  either  insult  your  character, 
or  expose  my  own  W'eakness  by  any  application  which  would 
savor  of  this ;  for  of  all  men  I  know  it  would  be  most  ineffectual 
with  you.  But,  though  there  may  be  considerations  superior  even 
to  those  of  humanity  to  individuals,  yet  when  both  can  be  recon- 
ciled, a  benevolent  mind  will  not  w^ant  inducements  to  seek  the 
occasions  of  doing  it ;  and  I  flatter  myself  examples  have  not  been 
wanting,  in  similar  cases,  and  in  ages  not  more  enlightened,  and 
in  nations  not  more  civilized,  to  justify  either  the  request  or  the 
granting  of  it.  Anxious,  however,  to  preserve  a  consistency  of 
conduct,  I  have  considered  this  application  under  all  the  circum- 
stances which  my  imagination  could  suggest,  and  as  I  cannot  per- 
ceive that  I  desire  any  thing  w^hich,  were  our  situations  reversed,  I 
would  not  readily  admit,  I  stand  at  least  acquitted  to  myself;  but 
as  you  are  the  proper  judge  of  the  propriety  of  your  interference  in 
this  matter,  should  you  be  of  a  different  opinion,  I  shall  acquiesce, 
and  trust  I  shall  find  resources  in  my  mind  to  support  me  under 
every  misfortune  not  incurred  by  my  own  fault,  or  wilful  neglect, 
which  may  befall  me. 

Should  it  be  thought  material  to  inquire  into  Mrs.  Van 
Schaack's  real  situation.  Dr.  Bard,  who  has  seen  her,  can  give  the 
necessary  information  ;  and  if  the  request  is  admissible,  I  will  cheer- 
fully enter  into  any  engagements  which  may  be  required  from  rea- 
sons of  a  public  nature. 

I  am,  with  great  esteem. 

Sir,  your  most  ob't  humble  serv't, 

Peter  VaiN  Schaack. 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  07 

TO  PETER  VAN  SCHAACK. 

Poughkccpsie,  26th  March,  1778. 
Dear  Sir  : 

Your  favor  of  the  18th  inst.  has  been  received,  and  the  petition 
it  covered  delivered  to  his  Excellency  the  Governor.  I  am  request- 
ed by  him  to  inform  you,  that  however  desirous  he  may  at  all  times 
be  to  comply  with  the  dictates  of  humanity,  yet  that  prudence  for- 
bids all  communication  with  the  enemy  except  such  as  reasons  of 
state  may  warrant.  As  the  Legislature  are  now  sitting,  and  you 
have  his  Excellency's  license  to  come  to  this  place,  he  thinks  an 
application  to  them  would  be  more  proper,  especially  as  questions 
might  possibly  arise  respecting  the  prudence,  and  perhaps  the  au- 
thority of  a  governor,  in  consenting  to  a  measure  which  private 
considerations  only  may  render  proper ;  and  the  more  so,  as  a  pre- 
cedent of  this  kind  would  open  a  door  to  many  applications  of 
a  similar  nature,  though  perhaps  less  proper  to  be  complied 
with. 

The  Governor  will  readily  transmit  any  open  letters  you  may 
write  to  your  friends  in  New-York,  and  permit  medicine,  and  the 
like  necessaries,  to  be  sent  from  thence  to  you.  Nor  will  he  have 
any  objection  to  give  you  and  Mrs.  Van  Schaack  a  pass  to  go  to 
any  place  not  in  the  possession  or  vicinity  of  the  enemy,  which 
you  may  think  more  friendly  to  her  health. 

I  sincerely  sympathize  with  you,  on  the  condition  of  Mrs.  Van 
Schaack's  health.  Be  so  kind  as  to  present  my  best  respects  to 
her. 

I  am,  dear  sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

?JoHN  Jay. 

TO  JOHN  JAY. 

Kinderhook,  30th  March,  1778. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  received  your  favor  of  the  26th  inst.,  and  am  sorry  to  find 
that  my  request  has  been  rejected.  However,  as  my  expectations 
were  not  very  sanguine,  the  disappointment  is  not  so  great  to  me 
as  to  Mrs.  Van  Schaack,  who  had  flattered  herself  with  hopes,  from 
viewing  only  the  humane  side  of  the  question,  without  entering 

13 


98  THELIFEOF 

into  those  reasons  which  a  peculiar  combination  of  circumstances 
may  render  unanswerable.  The  only  ground  upon  which  I  expected 
to  succeed,  was  an  assurance  that  I  would  remove  every  objection 
which  might  be  made  in  my  own  particular  case,  by  engagements 
which  I  hope  I  shall  always  think  binding. 

My  addressing  the  Governor  on  this  occasion,  and  not  the 
Legislature,  was  not  any  effect  of  designed  omission  of  any 
rule  of  propriety  or  form,  for  my  first  intention  was  to  have  ad- 
dressed the  latter  ;  but  on  recurring  to  the  terms  in  which  the  order 
of  the  late  convention  relative  to  me,  and  my  parole  in  con- 
sequence thereof,  are  conceived,  it  appeared  to  me  that  I  was 
more  immediately  under  the  direction  of  the  executive  power. 
However,  as  his  Excellency  has  a  delicacy  about  interposing  in 
this  matter,  I  shall  not  again  trouble  him  on  the  subject,  and  the 
rather  as  I  feel  the  highest  sense  of  his  polite  and  humane  atten- 
tion to  the  distressed  situation  of  my  family,  in  granting  me  his 
indulgence  in  the  instances  you  mention ;  nor  will  Mrs.  Van 
Schaack's  extreme  w^eakness  admit  of  my  leaving  her  to  make  an 
application  to  the  Legislature ;  indeed,  sir,  I  could  not  leave  her  a 
night  without  great  uneasiness.  I  do  not,  however,  despair  entirely 
of  her  recovering  a  little  more  strength,  and  as  riding  and  a  change 
of  air  would  be  conducive  to  her  health,  I  shall  avail  myself  of  his  Ex- 
cellency's kind  offer  of  a  pass,  upon  the  first  favorable  appearance. 
The  sea-coast  would  be  preferable,  but  this  will  be  impracticable 
for  several  months ;  my  present  plan,  therefore,  extends  only  to 
this  and  Dutchess  county,  and  the  western  towns  of  the  Massachu- 
setts Bay,  and  I  hope  this  will  not  be  disagreeable  to  his  Excel- 
lency. 

In  consequence  of  the  Governor's  indulgence,  I  beg  leave  to 
trouble  you  with  an  open  letter  to  a  friend  in  I*^ew-York,  contain- 
ing a  memorandum  of  things,  which  in  some  form  or  other  are 
almost  all  prescribed  for  her  use.  However,  if  there  is  any  objec- 
tion to  it  from  its  being  more  extensive  than  was  designed,  I  am 
content  to  abridge  it.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  the  whole  should  be 
thought  too  trifling  to  be  noticed,  as  I  hope  will  be  the  case,  and 
should  there  be  any  articles  IVIrs.  Jay  might  wish  to  have,  I  should 
be  glad  they  might  be  added,  either  by  increasing  the  quantities  of 
what  I  have  written  for,  or  by  adding  others.     If  the  Governor 


PETER      VAN      sen  AACK.  99 

consents  to  the  letter  p;oing  down,  I  should  be  happy  it  might  be 
known  at  the  posts  below  that  the  thhigs  to  be  sent  have  his 
Excellency's  license. 

Mrs.  Van  Schaack  begs  her  compliments  to  you  and  Mrs.  Jay, 
and  thanks  you  for  all  the  trouble  you  take  on  her  account. 

I  am,  respectfully,  dear  sir. 
Your  most  ob't  serv't, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

TO  PETER  VAN  SCHAACK. 

Dear  Sui : 

Your  favor  of  the  30th  ult.  this  instant  arrived.  I  have  in- 
closed it  to  the  Governor  in  statu  quo,  and  have  no  doubt  of  its  being 
as  successful  as  our  stockings  formerly  were,  under  the  auspices  of 
your  tutelar  saint.  Your  offer  of  additions  is  very  obliging.  It 
will  not  be  long  before  I  visit  Albany,  and  I  have  too  good  a  mem- 
ory to  forget  the  hospitable  house  on  the  hill.  I  hope  the  pipes 
will  get  there  before  me. 

The  wise  ones  say  we  shall  all  go  to  New-York  next  winter. 
I  pray  God  that  Mrs,  Van  Schaack  may  yet  find  herself  very  well 
there.  I  verily  believe  that  a  little  riding,  sailing,  laughing,  &c., 
would  be  of  infinite  service  to  her. 

An  inflammation  in  ray  eyes,  has  for  some  days  confined  me 
here.  On  Monday  I  shall  be  at  Poughkeepsie.  Any  services  in 
my  power,  command ;  I  mean  never  to  forget  my  friends,  however 
different  our  noses,  or  sentiments  may  be. 

Adieu.     I  am  sincerely  yours,  &c., 

John  Jay. 

P.  S.  Mrs.  Jay  is  a  little  indisposed.  Be  pleased  to  present 
her  and  my  compliments  to  Mrs.  Van  Schaack. 

TO  JOHN  JAY. 

Kinderhook,  6th  Mpril,  1778. 
Dear  Sir  : 

Nothing  W'ould  give  me  greater  pleasure,  than  your  promise  of 
a  visit  in  your  way  to  Albany.  You  have  anticipated  my  request, 
but  not  my  wishes  for  this  favor,  which  I  intended  to  have  solicited 
when  I  last  wrote  you,  but — in  short,  you  will  know  my  feelings 


100  THE     LIFE     OF 

better  than  I  can  describe  tliem.  Most  sincerely  do  I  wish  the 
prediction  of  the  wise  ones  may  be  verified  ; — once  more  to  enjoy 
those  social  and  rational  hours,  of  which  you  and  I  have  passed  so 
many  to2:cther,  would  be  the  height  of  my  wishes.  I  could  then 
say  7unic  dhnittis,  or  rather  I  might  wish  to  live  forever.  A  recol- 
lection of  those  happy  scenes,  of  our  clubs,  our  moots  and  our 
Broadway  evenings,  fills  me  with  pleasing,  melancholy  reflections 
— -fuimus  Troes,fuit  Ilium.  I  shall  have  a  pipe  for  you,  though 
not  of  those  sent  for.  The  house  on  the  hill  never  had  a  more 
heartily  w-elcome  guest,  than  will  be  my  old  friend  to  the  present 
tenants  of  it. 
—  Your  friendly  offer  of  services  is  very  flattering  to  me. — I  never 
doubted  your  friendship ;  yet  I  own  that  was  not  the  ground  upon 
which  I  expected  to  succeed  in  my  late  application,  and  I  verily 
believe,  with  the  same  know^ledge  of  your  character,  I  should  have 
ventured  to  make  the  same  request  of  you,  though  I  had  been  a 
stranger  to  your  person.  As  a  man,  I  know  you  would  espouse 
the  petition,  if  public  considerations  did  not  oppose  it ;  and  if  they 
did,  I  knew  no  friendship  w^ould  be  sufficient  to  prevail  on  you 
to  do  it. 

As  I  should  be  glad  to  be  at  Albany  when  you  make  your 
public  exhibition,  if  Mrs.  Van  Schaack's  health  w^ill  admit  of  my 
absence,  I  wish  you  would  bring  w^ith  you  the  pass  his  Excel- 
lency w^as  pleased  to  consent  to  give  me,  which  will  prevent  the 
necessity  of  troubling  him  again.  Mrs.  Van  Schaack  desires  her 
compliments  to  you  and  Mrs.  Jay,  who,  we  hope,  will  accompany 
you  up.  She  is  somewhat  better  than  she  has  been,  and  if  you  can 
but  persuade  her  that  her  recovery  may  be  effected  without  going 
to  New-York,  it  will  be  doing  her  an  essential  service,  though  the 
task  may  be  a  little  diflficult.  I  am  sorry  you  did  not  agree  to 
make  the  proposed  additions,  though  I  hope  you  will  have  no  ob- 
iection  to  a  division,  if  my  tutelary  saint  should  smile  on  my  ad- 
venture. 

I  am,  with  great  respect, 

Your  most  obed't  servant, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  101 


TO    JOHN   JAY. 

Kinderhook,  luth  .flpr'd^  1778. 
Dear  Sir  : 

It  is  no  less  painful  to  me,  than  I  fancy  avIII  be  dlsat^reeable  to 
you,  the  subject  of  this,  and  of  my  former  letters.  When  I  wrote 
you  last,  Mrs.  Van  Schaack's  situation  put  on  some  favorable  ap- 
pearances, from  which  I  was  flattered  with  the  hope  that  she 
would  be  enabled  to  make  such  excursions  as  might  supply  the 
want  of  a  jaunt  to  her  native  place.  These  were,  however,  of 
short  duration,  and  have  been  succeeded  by  symptoms  which 
threaten  her  in  the  most  imminent  manner.  All  ceremony,  on  my 
part,  was  now  to  give  way  to  the  emergency  of  the  occasion,  and 
I  determined,  as  the  last  resource,  to  address  the  Legislature;  un- 
fortunately, I  heard  to-day  that  they  have  adjourned  ;  but  suppo- 
sing that  some  of  the  members  competent  to  this  business  may  be 
sitting  during  their  recess,  I  still  send  my  petition. 

Having  fully  weighed  this  matter,  I  can  conceive  of  no  objec- 
tions which  may  not  be  obviated,  and  the  design  of  this  letter  is  to 
tell  you,  that  having  in  view  nothing  but  the  hope  of  prolonging 
my  wife's  life,  or  of  making  her  last  days  more  satisfactory  to  her- 
self, I  am  willing  to  enter  into  the  most  sacred  engagements,  and 
to  submit  to  the  most  particular  restrictions  with  respect  to  my 
conduct,  and  that  I  will  totally  abstain  from  every  kind  of  pohtical 
conversation,  and  neither  communicate  any  intelligence,  nor  re- 
port any  upon  my  return,  but  merely  confine  my  jaunt  to  its  true 
and  only  purport — the  making  a  trial  of  its  efficacy  towards  re- 
storing her  health.  Should  any  thing  be  attempted  to  be  drawn 
from  me,  repugnant  to  the  true  meaning  of  those  for  whose  satis- 
faction this  would  be  done,  which,  however,  I  cannot  think,  there 
is  no  severity  I  would  not  undergo,  sooner  than,  in  the  least  de- 
gree, to  violate  an  engagement  voluntarily  made,  justifiable  in 
every  view,  and  productive  of  a  benefit  so  essential  to  me. 

My  being  thus  particular,  arises  not  from  vanity  or  ostenta- 
tion, nor  from  a  supposition  of  any  ability  in  me  to  injure  the  pub- 
lic measures ;  much  less  would  I  have  it  thought  to  imply  a  con- 
cession that  I  would  wish  to  do  so,  but  because  I  know  that  in 
times  like  those  we  live  in,  jealousies  are  natural.     But,  fears  and 


102  THE     LIFE     OF 

apprehensions  which  are  to  obstruct  a  measure  otherwise  reasona- 
ble, with  men  of  sense  will  have  some  object :  this  object,  in  the 
present  case,  I  would  endeavor  to  discover,  and  am  willing  to  ob- 
viate, be  it  what  it  will,  so  far  forth  as  any  engagements  on  my 
part  can  do  it.  I  could  therefore  wish  that  you  would  consider 
this  matter,  and  if  any  possible  method  can  be  devised  to  gratify 
Mrs.  Van  Schaack,  that  you  will  endeavor  to  effect  it.  I  cannot 
think  that  her  wish  is  the  effect  of  caprice,  though  it  is  certain 
that  the  desires  of  diseased  persons  have  often  repaid  the  temporary 
uneasiness  they  have  occasioned,  by  contributing,  when  gratified, 
to  a  lasting  cure ;  but  in  this  case,  sir,  her  physicians  urge  reasons 
of  the  most  cogent  nature,  of  which  I  could  transmit  you  proofs  if 
they  were  not  premature,  till  I  know  whether,  if  proved,  the  fact 
would  be  deemed  material. 

I  would  not  by  any  means  make  observations  which  might 
give  offence ;  but  what  danger  can  arise  from  this  measure  1 
what  intelligence  can  I  give  ?  are  not  persons  daily  going  to  and 
fro,  (and  must  not  this  necessarily  be  so  in  time  of  wart)  who 
from  their  stations  have  opportunities  to  acquire  information  w^hich 
I  cannot  be  supposed  to  have,  and  who  go  free  from  restrictions 
which  I  will  submit  to  ?  Indeed,  I  have  heard  of  instances  of  per- 
sons being  permitted,  in  Jersey,  to  go  in  on  parole  to  see  their 
friends.  That  your  confidence  has  been  often  abused,  I  do  not 
doubt ;  this  is  a  common  complaint  in  private  life,  as  well  as  pub- 
lic ;  but  an  indiscriminating  distrust  cannot  from  thence  be  inferred 
to  be  either  politic  or  just. 

From  the  tenor  of  my  application,  you  will  understand  that  my 
fixed  determination  is  to  return,  nor  are  there  any  considerations 
relative  to  myself  merely,  to  induce  me  to  wish  to  go  on  any  other 
terms.  It  must  be  a  hard  alternative  indeed,  that  would  prevail  on 
me  to  quit  my  native  country.  Prospects  of  pecuniary  advantages 
I  think  would  not  tempt  me ;  indeed,  were  I  inclined  to  urge  con- 
siderations relative  to  myself,  my  own  state  of  health,  affected  as  it 
is  in  a  very  tender  organ,  might  perhaps  justify  me  in  extending 
the  grounds  of  my  application. 

The  bearer  carries  my  petition,  concerning  the  delivery  of 
which  I  wish  you  to  give  him  directions,  unless  yoxL  will  take  the 
charge  of  it ;  but  this  I  do  not  urge,  as  I  assure  you  I  shall  not  take 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  103 

it  amiss  if  you  decHne  it,  as  interferlnnr  in  any  manner  with  your 
delicacy.  I  have  that  confidence  in  you,  that  1  shall  acquiesce  in 
your  determination  on  this  head,  without  murmuring.  Possibly  his 
Excellency,  in  the  recess  of  the  Legislature,  might  be  willing  to 
grant  the  petition. 

I  am,  with  great  respect,  dear  sir, 

Your  most  obedient,  humble  servant, 

Peter  Van  ScHAACtc. 

TO  PETER  VAN  SCHAACK. 

Potighkeepsie,  ISth  April,  1778. 
Dear  Sir  : 

Your  favor  of  the  fifteenth  inst.  came  to  hand  last  evening.  I 
am  fully  impressed  with  a  sense  of  your  unfortunate  situation,  and 
should  be  happy  were  it  in  my  power  to  alleviate  the  pain  and 
anxiety  it  must  give  you.  I  delivered  your  petition,  and  read 
your  letter  to  me,  to  his  Excellency  this  morning.  He  regrets  the 
necessity  w^hich  opposes  a  compliance  w-ith  your  request ;  but  still 
thinks  it  his  indispensable  duty  to  prevent  all  intercourse  between 
the  inhabitants  and  the  enemy,  except  such  as  reasons  of  state  may 
dictate.  His  objections  do  not  in  this  instance  arise  from  distrust. 
He  means  to  make  it  a  general  rule,  that  no  citizen  shall,  with  his 
permission,  go  to  the  enemy  on  private  business  and  return.  He 
desires  me  to  assure  you,  that  there  is  no  gentleman  in  this  State 
to  whom  he  would  grant  the  indulgence  in  question  ;  but  that  he 
will  nevertheless  be  ahvays  ready  to  do  you  any  kind  office,  which 
may  not  contravene  the  principles  by  which  his  administration  is 
directed. 

Endeavor  to  prevail,  then,  my  dear  sir,  on  Mrs.  Van  Schaack, 
to  suspend  a  fruitless  anxiety  to  visit  her  former  habitation.  The 
time  may  yet  come,  and  perhaps  is  not  far  distant,  when  that 
natural  desire  may  be  gratified,  and  w4ien  she  may  again  partake 
of  those  social  enjoyments  of  which  these  turbulent  times  have 
deprived  so  many.  I  should  have  enlarged,  but  company  this 
moment  comes  in,  and  constrains  me  to  conclude  this  letter. 
I  am,  dear  sir,  with  every  lliendly  wish. 

Yours,  &.C. 

John  Jay. 


104  THE     LIFE     OF 

Mrs.  Van  Schaack  was  a  member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church,  and  she  had  advanced  far  in  her  Christian  attainments. 
Her  removal  to  the  country  had  deprived  her  of  many  religious 
privileges,  which  she  had  enjoyed  in  the  city  of  New-York,  and 
she  sighed  for  their  return,  and  for  the  opportunities  of  public  wor- 
ship, and  of  the  ordinances  of  the  church.  Several  extracts  from 
her  letters  of  a  somewhat  earlier  date,  to  a  female  friend  in  New- 
York,  written  during  her  residence  at  Kinderhook,  wall  illustrate 
the  state  of  her  mind,  and  the  deprivations  for  w^hich  she  mourned  : 

"  Christmas. 
"  May  grace,  mercy  and  peace  be  multiplied  unto  you,  my  be- 
loved sister  !  May  you  ever  serve  the  Lord,  but  especially  at  this 
joyful  season,  when  the  great  God  of  Heaven  deigned  to  take  our 
nature  upon  him,  and  to  redeem  us  from  the  power  of  the  devil, 
and  make  us  heirs  of  eternal  glory.  Amazing  love  !  Unparal- 
leled condescension  !  O,  may  our  hearts  be  suitably  impressed ! 
How  happy  are  you  that  have  it  in  your  power  to  attend  the  ordi- 
nances of  God — to  hear  his  most  holy  w^ord.  This  I  am  deprived  of. 
I  have  not  so  much  as  one  experienced  person  to  converse  with, 
and  sometimes  doubt  w^hether  I  ever  shall  have  again.  *  *  *  How 
suddenly  were  my  hopes  blasted  !  Deprived  at  one  stroke  of  al- 
most every  earthly  comfort !  My  church !  My  friends !  My 
children !  My  native  place  and  little  family !  *  *  *  Do  write  me 
a  long  letter.  Encourage  me  in  the  w^ay  of  my  duty.  You  are 
capable  of  it,  my  valuable  friend,  and  I  stand  in  much  need  of  it. 
I  am  destitute  of  any  place  of  public  w^orship.  O,  the  blessed 
privileges  which  I  once  enjoyed !  I  often  with  tears  repeat  the 
words  of  the  Psalmist : 

'  I  pigh,  whene'er  my  musing  thoughts 
Those  happy  days  present, 
When  I,  with  troops  of  pious  friends, 
God's  temple  did  frequent.' " 

In  further  illustration  of  the  hardships  and  privations  growing 
out  of  the  distrust  excited  by  a  state  of  civil  war,  (and  wiiich  is  not 
one  of  the  least  of  its  horrors,)  the  following  circumstances  may  be 
mentioned : 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  105 

Attached  to  the  medical  staff  of  the  British  army  captured  at 
Saratoga,  was  a  Doctor  Hayes,  a  gentleman  eminent  for  skill  in 
his  profession.  He  accompanied  Majors  Ackland  and  Harnage, 
and  the  other  wounded  British  officers,  from  Saratoga  to  Albany, 
where  he  remained  for  some  time.  His  professional  services  were 
not  confined  to  the  army  at  that  place,  and  the  information  of  his 
great  medical  skill  led  to  his  employment  by  the  citizens  of  Alba- 
ny, in  many  critical  cases,  while  his  urbanity  and  gentlemanly  de- 
portment endeared  him  to  the  inhabitants.  He  had  been  consulted 
in  regard  to  Mrs.  Van  Schaack's  case,  and,  a  few  days  previous  to 
her  death,  application  was  made  to  General  the  Marquis  de  la 
Fayette,  who  was  then  temporarily  in  command  of  the  northern 
military  department,  for  permission  to  Doctor  Hayes  to  visit  her, 
in  her  then  critical  state  of  health,  at  her  residence  in  Kinderhook, 
twenty  miles  distant  from  Albany.  The  Committee  of  Safety  in- 
terfered with  the  Commanding  General  to  prevent  the  excursion, 
and  the  humane  purpose  was  thus  defeated.  This  estimable  lady 
died,  at  Kinderhook,  a  few  days  afterwards, — an  occurrence  to  her 
afflicted  husband,  under  all  the  circumstances,  of  the  most  heart- 
rending character.* 

♦  A  touching  account  of  the  last  moments  of  Mrs.  Van  Schaack,  committed 
to  paper  by  Mr.  V.  S.  at  the  time,  contains  the  following  paragraph  :  "  Sho 
asked  me  when  Mr.  Jay  was  expected  here.  She  wished  me  to  convince  him 
she  harbored  no  resentment  for  the  refusal  of  her  request,  [to  visit  New- 
York.]  I  asked  her  whether  she  would  not  also  forgive  the  committee,  who 
had  refused  to  her  iihysician  leave  to  visit  her.  '  Yes,  she  forgave  them  and 
every  body.'     Vide  Appendix  H. 


14 


lOG  THE     LIFE     OF 


CHAPTER    VI. 

The  state  of  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  health  was  now  such  as  to 
demand  his  attention ;  and  he  determined  to  make  a  voyage  to 
Europe,  for  the  purpose  of  avaihng  himself  of  the  skill  of  an  expe- 
rienced oculist,  in  an  operation  upon  the  cataract  in  his  eye.  In 
view  of  the  numerous  severe  and  trying  scenes  through  which  he 
had  passed,  and  the  reflections  arising  from  which  were  preying 
upon  his  mind,  a  change  of  scene  was  highly  desirable ;  nor  is  it 
surprising,  that  with  so  many  grievous  afflictions  pressing  upon  him, 
his  imagination  should  have  "  colored  high  and  shaded  deep"  upon 
the  public  measures,  as  suggested  in  Mr.  Jay's  answer  to  the  fol- 
lowing letter 

TO  JOHN  JAY. 

Kinderhook,  June  3d,  1778. 
Dear  Sir  : 

We  were  much  disappointed  in  not  seeing  you  on  your  return, 
and  the  more  so  as  I  fear  we  cannot  promise  ourselves  the  plea- 
sure of  a  visit  from  you  very  soon.  I  intended,  under  your  protec- 
tion, to  have  accompanied  you  part  of  the  way  down,  but  when  all 
hopes  of  seeing  you  were  gone,  I  took  upon  me  to  ride  as  far  as 
Claverack,  for  which  I  flatter  myself  it  will  not  be  difl^cult  to  pro- 
cure an  indemnity,  if  it  be  not  justified  by  what  has  happened  ; 
however,  I  could  wish  to  have  a  pass  in  form  to  ride  about  a  little, 
for  which  I  once  before  wrote  you  in  a  letter  that  I  suspect  has 
never  reached  you.  ]\Iy  friends  are  continually  recommending 
little  excursions,  with  which  my  judgment,  more  I  assure  you  than 
my  inclination,  coincides;  but  this  kind  of  amusement  becomes 
the  more  necessary,  as  I  am  diiected  to  refrain  from  reading  and 
writing,  which  is  a  restraint  peculiarly  hard  in  my  present  situation; 
but  being  calculated  to  avert  a  greater  hardship,  is  to  be  submitted 
to  as  much  as  possible. 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  107 

The  disorder  in  my  eye  is  now  become  so  confirmed,  as  to  ex- 
clude all  hope  of  relief,  but  from  the  hand  of  an  oculist.  Under 
such  circumstances,  my  dear  sir,  and  with  the  continual  apprehen- 
sion of  its  communicating  to  the  other  eye,  which  would  reduce  me 
to  a  condition  infinitely  more  distressing  to  me  than  the  terrors  of 
immediate  death,  what  am  I  to  do  ?  Could  a  request,  on  such  an 
occasion,  to  go  to  Europe,  where  alone  I  see  a  prospect  of  obtain- 
ing relief,  be  liable  to  misconstruction  ?  God  knows,  I  would  most 
cheerfully  waive  the  gratification  of  such  a  request,  if  I  could  be 
freed  from  the  necessity  which  may  induce  me  to  make  it.  I  intend- 
ed to  have  discussed  this  matter  fully,  if  I  could  have  seen  you,  and 
should  have  w^ished  to  hear  your  sentiments  on  the  subject,  before 
I  took  any  measure  relative  to  it.  I  am  far  from  expecting  that  I 
should  be  exempt  from  the  common  inconveniences,  or  even  cala- 
mities of  the  country  ;  but  pecuhar  cases  often  admit  of  particular 
attention,  without  infringing  the  justice  due  to  the  public,  and  pri- 
vate humanity  is  often  found  compatible  with  public  safety. 

Fearful  of  rendering  my  letters  troublesome,  by  the  frequency 
of  my  applications,  I  shall  break  off. 

I  am,  with  great  regard, 

Dear  sir,  yours  sincerely, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

TO  PETER  VAN  SCHAACK. 

Poughkeepsie,  26th  June,  1778. 
Dear  Sir  : 

It  is  but  three  days  since  your  favor  of  the  3d  instant  was  de- 
livered to  me.  A  fair  wind,  good  company,  the  prospect  of  a 
short  passage,  and  thereby  avoiding  the  fatigue  and  inconvenience 
of  a  journey  by  land,  induced  me  to  return  from  Albany  by  water. 
The  letter  you  mention  to  have  written  on  the  subject  of  a  pass, 
has  never  come  to  hand.  On  conversing  with  the  Governor,  yes- 
terday, on  that  subject,  he  told  me  he  lately  had  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  you,  and  had  settled  that  matter  to  your  satisfaction. 

1  am  of  the  number  of  those,  who  think  exercise  and  change 
of  air  and  company,  essential  to  your  health.  I  might  add  a 
third  requisite — a  mind  at  ease.  The  two  first  conduce  to  the 
other.     Misfortunes,  and  severe  ones,  have  been  your  lot.     The 


108  THE     LIFE     OF 

reflection  that  they  happened  in  the  course  of  a  Providence  that 
errs  not,  has  consolation  in  it.  I  fear,  too,  that  your  sensibility  is 
wounded  by  other  circumstances — but  these  are  wounds  not  to  be 
probed  in  a  letter.  Could  we  now  and  then  smoke  a  few  pipes 
together,  you  would  perhaps  be  in  a  better  humor  with  many 
things  in  this  world,  than  I  think  you  now  are.  I  suspect  your 
imagination  colors  high  and  shades  too  deep  ;  but  more  of  this  an- 
other time.  A  voyage  to  Europe  may  as  well  be  postponed,  and 
that  for  two  good  reasons :  first,  because  a  passport  will  not  be 
attainable  at  present;  and  secondly,  because  I  believe  delay  will 
not  be  attended  with  danger.  My  belief  arises  from  the  fol- 
lowing facts. 

About  five  years  ago,  a  blind  Frenchman,  who  had  been  main- 
tained several  years  by  the  parish  of  Rye,  was  brought  to  my 
brother.  He  had  lost  one  eye  fourteen,  and  the  other  five  or  six 
years.  The  sight  of  both  eyes  was  equally  opaque,  and  both  equally 
useless.  My  brother  chose  to  operate  only  on  one  at  a  time,  but 
told  me  it  was  of  little  consequence  on  which  of  the  two,  for  that 
the  difference  in  the  time  was  of  no  moment.  He  opened  the 
one  which  had  been  blind  fourteen  years.  The  man  recovered 
the  sight  of  that  eye,  and  requested  the  like  operation  on  the  other, 
but  my  brother  declined  it,  on  account  of  the  connection,  or  sym- 
pathy, which  he  said  subsisted  between  the  two. 

You  mistake  me  much,  if  you  suppose  the  frequency  of  your 
letters  or  applications,  troublesome  to  me.  I  assure  you  it  would 
give  me  pleasure,  were  opportunities  of  being  useful  to  you  more 
frequent  than  either.  ^Vhen  you  was  last  here,  fourteen  miles 
more  would  have  carried  you  to  Fishkill.  That  little  ride  would 
have  been  a  gratification  to  me,  and  not  unpleasant  to  you.  What 
detained  you  ?  Was  you  not  sure  I  would  be  glad  to  see  you  ? 
God  bless  you,  and  give  you  health. 

I  am,  dear  Peter,  affectionately  yours,  &c., 

John  Jay. 

In  the  interval  between  the  dates  of  the  two  preceding  letters, 
Mr.  Van  Schaack  obtained  permission  from  the  Governor  of  New- 
York  to  visit  England,  for  the  purpose  before  alluded  to,  as  soon 
as  the  state  of  the  country  should  admit  of  it.     An   unexpected 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  109 

event  shortly  afterwards  occurred,  to  influence  and  accelerate  his 
departure  from  his  native  country,  and  to  swell  the  bitter  contents 
of  his  already  overflowing  cup  of  alllictions. 

On  the  thirteenth  of  June,  1778,  the  Legislature  of  New-York 
passed  the  Banishing  Act.*  By  this  act,  the  commissioners  of  con- 
spiracies were  required  "  to  cause  all  such  persons  of  neutral  and 
equivocal  characters  in  this  State,  w^hom  they  shall  think  have 
influence  sufficient  to  do  mischief  in  it,"  to  come  before  them,  and 
to  administer  to  them  an  oath,  the  purport  of  which  was,  that  the 
individual  believed  and  acknow^ledged  the  State  of  New-York  to 
be,  of  right,  a  free  and  independent  State.  In  case  of  a  refusal  to 
take  the  oath,  the  commissioners  were  required  to  remove  the  in- 
dividuals within  the  enemy's  lines,  and  their  names  were  to  be 
recorded  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State. 

One  of  the  penalties  prescribed  by  the  act,  was,  that  all  the  lands 
which  the  person  proceeded  against  held,  on  the  26th  of  June,  or 
should  subsequently  acquire,  should  forever  thereafter  be  charged 
"with  "  double  taxes."  The  banishment,  also,  w^as  to  be  perpetual, 
and  a  return  to  the  State  subjected  the  exile  to  a  conviction  for 
"  misprision  of  treason." 

On  the  eighteenth  of  July,  Mr.  Van  Schaack  appeared  before 
the  commissioners,  at  Albany,  upon  their  summons  under  this  act, 
and  having  refused  to  take  the  prescribed  oath,  an  order  was  made 
for  his  removal  in  pursuance  of  its  provisions. 

Justice  demands  at  the  hands  of  the  author,  the  statement,  that 
the  proceedings  against  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  were  not  dictated 
by  motives  of  personal  hostility.  On  the  contrary,  some,  if  not  all 
of  the  commissioners,  were  his  personal  friends,  and  they  had  taken 
steps  against  him  with  great  reluctance.  They  were  not  aware, 
at  the  institution  of  these  proceedings,  of  the  permission  of  the  Gov- 
ernor, and  they  assured  Mr.  Van  Schaack,  that  had  they  known  it, 
they  would  not  have  summoned  him,  under  the  act.  The  com- 
missioners felt  compelled  to  the  course  pursued,  by  the  letter  of  the 
statute  ;  and  hicrh  as  was  their  estimation  of  Mr.  Van  Schaack's 
character,  and  great  as  was  their  friendship  for  him  as  an  individual, 
they  did  not  feel  at  liberty  to  exempt  him  from  proceechngs  positive- 

*  Vide  Appendix  I. 


110  THE     LIFE     OF 

ly  enjoined  by  the  Legislature,  against  all  persons  of"  influence," 
\vho  had  observed  a  neutrality  in  the  public  struggles. 

FROM  LEONARD  GANSEVOORT,  JUNIOR. 

Albany,  2lst  July,  1778. 
Dear  Sir  : 

Uncle  Van  Dyck  told  me  that  you  was  desirous  of  having  a 
copy  of  the  act.  I  now  inclose  it,  but  whether  it  is  correct  or  not 
I  cannot  say,  as  I  have  no  time  to  examine  it.  I  also  inclose  you 
an  order  of  the  board  of  commissioners;  as  you  are  desirous  of  going 
to  New-York,  there  can  be  nothing  disagreeable  in  it.  I  could 
wish,  however,  that  you  had  permission  from  the  Governor,  which 
would  take  away  the  force  of  the  act  with  respect  to  you.  Those 
gentlemen  in  town  who  have  refused  to  take  the  oath,  are  served 
with  like  orders. 

I  should  be  glad,  as  you  purpose  to  leave  this  part  of  the  world, 
that  you  would  furnish  me  with  your  account  against  me  ;  I  shall, 
if  you  leave  directions,  pay  it  to  either  of  your  brothers,  or  if  you 
choose  to  receive  it  yourself,  you  may  have  it  at  any  time. 
I  am,  dear  sir,  your  friend  and  humble  servant, 

Leon.  Gansevoort,  Jun. 

The  writer  of  the  foregoing  letter  was  secretary  to  the  board  of 
commissioners  of  conspiracies.  He  had  been  Mr.  Van  Schaack's 
law-student,  and  had  but  just  finished  a  course  of  legal  studies  in 
his  office,  at  New-York,  when  the  Revolution  broke  out.  The 
order  for  his  banishment  bore  the  signature  of  the  secretary,  and 
Mr.  Van  Schaack  expressed  his  surprise  to  his  young  friend,  and 
former  pupil  at  finding  his  name  to  such  a  document,  adding : 
"  Leonard !  you  have  signed  my  death-warrant ;  but  I  appi'eciate 
your  motives.'^* 

His  views  in  regard  to  the  statute  under  which  proceedings 
were  had  against  him,  were  committed  to  paper  at  the  time. 

"  Observations  on  the  Banishing  Act  of  the  Senate  and  As- 
sembly of  the  State  of  New-York,  1778. 

*  The  subject  of  this  sketch,  at  this  time,  no  doubt  looked  upon  his  ban- 
ishment as  a  perpetual  exclusion  from  his  native  country,  and  as  almost 
equal  to  death  itself.  Whether  he  would  ever  be  permitted  to  return  to  the 
land  of  his  birth,  was  matter  dependent  upon  future  and  uncertain  events, 
and  upon  the  unforeseen  temper  and  measures  of  his  countrymen. 


PETER     VAN      SCHAACK.  Ill 

"  The  situation  in  which  the  persons  within  the  tlescription  of 
this  act  are  phiced,  is  such  as  will  justify  a  critical  examination 
into  the  principles  upon  which  it  is  framed  ;  for  as  it  is  descriptive 
of  such  persons  only  as  by  the  very  act  are  supposed  to  be  disaf- 
fected in  sentiment  to  the  public  measures,  and  yet  imposes  an  oath 
which  is  directly  repugnant  to  that  sentiment,  it  is  manifest  that 
they  are  placed  in  that  most  disagreeable  of  all  predicaments,  of 
either  forfeiting  their  property,  or,  by  taking  an  oath  opposite  to 
their  principles,  of  sacrificing  their  integrity.  A  situation  which, 
when  it  is  considered  that  it  is  brought  on  without  any  crime,  and 
only  for  an  error  in  judgment,  in  a  case  wherein  every  person  is  not 
only  justifiable,  but  under  the  most  sacred  obligation  of  exercising 
his  own  understanding,  the  humane  mind  w^ill  turn  from  with  hor- 
ror ;  and  I  doubt  not  but  a  proper  investigation  of  the  subject  will 
enable  us  to  discover  some  radical  error  in  this  proceeding. 

"  It  has  been  said,  in  the  earlier  part  of  this  contest,  (when  we 
were  all  subjects,)  that  even  legislative  powers  were  limited — 
limited  by  the  purposes  for  which  they  were  delegated — that  the 
duties  of  sovereign  and  subject  were  reciprocal,  and  that  the  few 
w^ere  raised  above  the  many,  not  for  the  wanton  display  of  arbitrary 
power,  but  for  the  exercise  of  lawful  authority  for  the  permanent 
benefit  of  society. 

"  I  hope  no  man  will  be  hardy  enough  to  maintain,  in  word  or 
in  practice,  that  these  principles  cease  to  be  truths  now,  when 
power  has  changed  hands,  or  that  we  are  in  the  miserable  situation 
of  ancient  Rome,  (not  in  her  youth,  but  in  her  dotage,)  when  the 
contest  was,  not  whether  she  should  be  free,  but  who  should  be  her 
master.  It  is  the  good  of  society,  therefore,  which  alone  can  justify 
acts  of  severity  towards  individuals ;  but  it  does  not  follow  from 
hence,  that  the  pretence  of  public  good,  however  specious,  is 
always  a  sufficient  reason  for  severity,  because  there  are  rights  of 
individuals,  the  infringement  of  which  even  this  cannot  justify. 
*  Though  punishments  be  productive  of  good,'  (says  the  excell  ent  Mar- 
quis Beccaria,  whom  I  quote  because  his  authority  has  the  approba- 
tion of  the  Congress,)  '  they  are  not  on  that  account  more  just ;  to  be 
just,  they  must  be  necessary.^  '  Even  an  useful  injustice,'  (he  adds,) 
'  can  never  be  allowed  by  a  legislator  who  means  to  guard  against 
watchful  tyranny,  which,  under  the  flattering  pretext  of  momentary 


112  THE     LIFE     OF 

advantages,  would  establish  permanent  principles  of  destruction, 
and  to  procure  the  ease  of  a  few,  in  a  high  situation,  would  draw 
tears  from  thousands  of  the  poor.'  We  have,  then,  a  rule  whereby 
to  judge  of  the  equity  of  punishments ;  a  rule,  which,  while  it 
allows  the  sovereign  every  thing  which  society  was  intended  to 
bestow  upon  him,  views  at  the  same  time,  with  a  tender  eye,  the 
rights  of  individuals. 

"  The  tendering  an  oath,  involving  in  it  certain  speculative 
principles,  and  matters  of  opinion  in  a  contested  question,  under  the 
penalty  of  banishment  and  confiscation  of  property,  is  a  severe 
attack  upon  the  weakness  of  human  nature,  and  lays  a  strong 
temptation  for  perjury.  There  are  characters  who  will  perhaps 
take  this  oath  without  hesitation,  however  abhorrent  it  may  be 
from  their  principles ;  and  even  a  good  man,  in  so  hard  a  struggle 
between  duty  to  God,  and  affection  to  an  innocent  family,  who  will 
be  involved  in  his  ruin,  may  sink  under  the  weight  of  the  trial. 
Numbers,  therefore,  may  be  tempted  to  swear,  but  what  security 
will  the  public  derive  from  it,  is  the  material  question.  If  the 
propositions  held  up  in  the  oath  are  agreeable  to  their  principles, 
it  adds  no  obligations  to  allegiance  which  did  not  previously  exist ; 
if  opposite,  is  it  in  point  of  conscience  obhgatory?  This  is  a 
delicate  subject,  to  which  I  am  not  led  by  choice,  but  impelled  by 
necessity. 

"  I  have  always  understood — and  if  it  is  an  error,  it  being  a 
very  material  one  in  its  consequences,  I  wish  to  have  it  rectified — 
that  an  oath  to  do  that  which  is  unlawful,  that  is  repugnant  to  a 
duty  previously  existing,  either  divine  or  human,  is  not  obligatory; 
and  that  the  lawfulness  or  unlawfulness,  in  this  case,  depends 
entirely  upon  the  conceptions  of  the  juror,  so  as  to  affect  the 
morality  of  the  action,  or  the  binding  force  of  the  oath.  Thus, 
therefore,  in  the  present  case,  it  would  be  nugatory,  as  creating  no 
obligation  to  the  observance :  but  this  is  not  all,  for,  according  to 
the  highest  authorities  upon  the  subject  of  natural  religion,  the  sin 
of  taking  an  oath,  which  in  the  opinion  of  the  juror  is  unlawful, 
would  be  so  far  from  being  expiated  by  the  performance  of  it,  that 
this  would  be  a  high  aggravation. 

"  If  neutrality  merely  be  a  cause  of  suspicion,  then,  if  after 
taking  the  oath,  a  man  should  observe  the  same  conduct,  there 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  113 

will  be  adiUtlonal  cause  to  suspect  him,  and  thus,  instead  of 
removing  suspicion,  it  would  but  increase  it ;  instead  of  creating  a 
motive  to  active  services,  it  would  but  add  to  the  restraints  which 
the  person  swearing  in  such  circumstances  previously  labored  under. 
How  far  the  above  remarks  are  confirmed  or  invalidated  by  expe- 
rience, you  best  know  ;  you  have  had  a  trial  of  near  two  years,  and 
the  number  of  proselytes  you  have  made,  may  convince  you  of  the 
expedience  of  persevering  in  the  measure. 

"  We  may  see,  therefore,  what  good  the  public  is  to  derive 
from  this  severe  punishment;  how  far  it  is  consistent  with  the  jus- 
tice due  to  individuals,  remains  to  be  inquired.  We  are  called 
before  a  board  for  {)unishing  conspirators,  when  we  are  acknow- 
ledged to  be  no  conspirators ;  before  a  board  unknown  to  the  con- 
stitution of  this  State,  to  be  condemned  without  a  trial,  and  to  be 
punished  without  a  crime.  The  utmost  extent  of  all  that  is  alleged, 
amounts  to  no  more  than  a  difference  in  opinion,  and  that  in  a 
case  wherein  I  have  a  right,  and  by  the  eternal  laws  of  God  am 
bound,  to  exercise  my  private  judgment,  and  wherein  I  should  vio- 
late the  most  sacred  obligations  if  I  acted  against  the  light  of  my 
own  conviction. 

"  Had  you,  at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  permitted  every  one 
differing  in  sentiment  from  you,  to  take  the  other  side,  or  at  least 
to  have  removed  out  of  the  State  with  their  property,  as  they 
unquestionably  had  a  right  to  do ;  it  would  have  been  a  conduct 
magnanimous  and  just.  But  now,  after  restraining  those  persons 
from  removing ;  punishing  them  if  in  the  attempt  they  were  appre- 
hended ;  selling  their  estates  if  they  escaped ;  compelling  them  to 
the  duties  of  subjects  under  heavy  penalties ;  deriving  aid  from 
them  in  the  prosecution  of  the  war,  in  many  cases  while  those 
persons  were  actually  deprived  of  the  privileges  of  subjects ;  at  such 
a  time,  when  no  imminent  danger  is  apprehended,  on  the  contrary, 
when  it  is  confidently  said  that  the  war  is  nearly  at  an  end,  ?iow  to 
compel  them  to  take  an  oath,  which  the  very  act  supposes  to  be 
incompatible  with  their  principles,  under  the  severe  penalty  of 
confiscation  of  property,  is  an  act  of  such  complicated  severity,  that 
it  is  impossible  it  should  stand  the  examination  of  a  dispassionate 
hour. 

"  It  may  be  said,  that  a  choice  is  given  to  these  supposed  delin- 

15 


114  THELIFEOF 

quents ;  but  who  is  he  that  will  say,  that  in  a  question  of  duty  or 
morality,  a  man  has  the  choice  of  performing,  or  renouncing  it  ? 
The  galley  slave  too  has  a  choice,  for  he  has  full  liberty  to  prefer 
the  oar  or  the  lash.  In  March,  1777,  likewise,  such  a  choice  was 
given,  and  how  that  act  was  carried  into  execution,  you  can  tell. 

"  But,  while  it  must  appear  astonishing,  that  your  severity 
should  increase  in  proportion  as  your  danger  subsides,  I  am  far 
from  thinking  you  should  be  w^anting  to  yourselves.  An  oath 
may  be  framed  for  persons  within  the  description  of  this  act,  every 
way  securing  the  State,  and  which  uj)on  the  principles  of  morality 
and  a  well-informed  conscience  would  be  binding  ;  and  this,  being 
the  only  restraint  necessary,  is  the  only  one  w^hich  is  justifiable. 
Complaints  that  this  kind  of  oath  has  been  violated,  and  that  you 
have  been  deceived  by  specious  appearances,  when  calculated  to 
destroy  all  confidence,  by  proving  too  much  prove  nothing  at  all. 
No  argument  can  be  drawn  against  the  force  of  a  lawful  oath,  from 
the  inefficiency  of  an  unlawful  one ;  those  who  refuse  to  take  the 
one,  are  the  very  persons  who  would  keep  the  other.  INIeasures 
calculated  to  make  hypocrites,  will  naturally  produce  deception. 
Have  you  never  been  deceived  by  persons  who  have  taken  the 
oath  of  allegiance  ?  why  then  do  you  impose  it  ?  Have  you  never 
been  deceived  by  persons  active  in  your  service  ?  w^hom  then  will 
you  trust  ? 

"If  it  should  be  said,  that  the  mere  silent  influence  of  persons 
of  character  is  dangerous  to  your  cause,  and  therefore  that  they 
ought  to  be  removed ;  supposing  this  to  have  weight,  you  ought 
not,  however,  to  add  to  their  banishment  any  punishment  affecting 
their  property.  By  removing  the  man,  the  measure  of  public  jus- 
tice is  full ;  by  adding  to  that  punishment,  it  runs  over.  The  one 
derives  its  justice  from  a  regard  to  self-preservation,  which  when 
well-founded  is  right;  the  other  is  an  act  of  vindictive  justice, 
which  is  due  only  to  overt  acts,  and  transgressions  of  known  laws. 
*  Can  there  be  a  more  melancholy  spectacle,'  (says  the  humane 
Beccaria,)  '  than  a  whole  family  overwhelmed  with  misery  from 
the  crime  of  their  chief?' 

"  There  are  not  wanting,  I  know,  among  the  advocates  of  state 
utility  and  state  necessity,  (though  I  hope  there  are  none  such 
among  us,)  who  would  like  penal  acts  the  better,  for  perpetuating 


PETER      VAN     SCIIAACK.  115 

their  punishment  down  to  the  innocent  posterity,  ^  to  the  end  that 
beinc^  always  poor  and  necessitous,  they  may  forever  be  ac- 
companied by  the  infamy  of  their  father ;  may  ]anp;uish  in  contin- 
ual indigence,  and  may  fmd  (says  a  certain  merciless  edict)  their 
punishment  in  living,  and  their  relief  in  dying  !' 

"  If  these  sanguinary  proceedings  are  justly  reprobated  by  every 
humane  writer,  when  directed  against  even  a  criminal  and  his 
posterity  ;  in  what  terms  would  they  express  themselves,  when  the 
same  measure  was  directed  against — not  a  criminal,  but  a  man  who 
was  not  even  accused  of  a  crime,  but  solely  blamable  for  a  differ- 
ence of  opinion,  and  for  possessing  a  greater  share  of  influence, 
derived  from  the  opinion  entertained  of  his  integrity,  or  abilities  ? 
Surely  the  constitution  of  this  State  must  abhor  such  an  idea ;  for, 
by  allowing  the  '  free  exercise  and  enjoyment  of  all  religious  pro- 
fessions without  discrimination,'  one  religion  is  admitted,  of  which 
the  members  we  know,  by  its  essential  tenets,  uphold  a  foreign 
supremacy ;  a  religion,  too,  which  we  are  assured  by  the  highest 
authority,  has  deluged  our  once  parent  country  '  in  blood,  and  dis- 
persed impiety,  bigotry,  persecution,  murder,  and  rebellion  through 
every  part  of  the  world ;'  and  yet,  to  the  exercise  of  even  this  re- 
ligion in  common  with  the  rest,  the  constitution  has  subjoined  no 
other  restriction,  than  that  it  shall  'not  authorize  ac^5  of  licentious- 
ness, or  justify  practices  inconsistent  with  the  safety  of  the  State.' 
So  liberal  has  it  been  towards  the  sacred  rights  of  conscience  and 
private  judgment,  and  so  wise  and  consistent,  that  while  it  leaves 
errors  of  the  mind  to  the  solemn  tribunal  of  God,  it  reserves  to  the 
civil  magistrate  only  the  cognizance  of  overt  acts — matters  not  left 
to  dubious  and  construclive  conjecture,  but  capable  of  certain  and 
unequivocal  proof;  not  punishable  by  a  board  foreign  to  the 
constitution,  but  triable  by  the  laws  of  the  land  previously  known, 
and  a  jury  of  the  criminal's  peers. 

"  In  every  view,  the  present  act  carries  with  it  an  unusual 
severity.  The  punishment  of  involuntary  errors  of  the  mind,  can 
be  very  rarely  just,  and  they  who  consider  that  either  party  can 
have  no  further  assurance  than  their  own  fall ihle  opinions  and 
conviction  of  their  being  right,  will  be  very  tender  how  they  pun- 
ish their  opponents,  who  do  not  carry  their  sentiments  into  prac- 
tices inconsistent  with  the  peace  and  safety  of  the  State.     There 


116  THELIFEOF 

are  no  reasons  from  ^vhlch  it  can  be  shown,  that  a  man  may  not 
in  principle  adhere  to  the  old  government  as  well  as  support  the 
new,  and  the  rule  against  neutrality  in  civil  wars,  necessarily  ad- 
mits it.  You  ought,  therefore,  to  have  let  them  withdraw  at  the 
commencement  of  the  war,  or  if  now  you  will  compel  them  to  it, 
you  should  let  them  carry  their  property  with  them,  or  let  them 
dispose  of  it  as  they  please." 

In  the  writer  of  the  following  sympathetic  letter,  the  reader 
will  recognize  an  eminent  Whig,  and  a  distinguished  citizen,  pos- 
sessing those  sterling  qualities  which  INIr.  Van  Schaack  always 
attracted  to  himself,  and  which  gives  to  his  friendships  a  peculiar 
charm. 

FROM  THEODORE  SEDGWICK. 

Sheffield,  12th  August,  1778. 
My  dear  Sir: 

I  have  sent  Hendrick  for  those  things,  a  memorandum  of  which 
I  left  with  you  ;  as  a  bedstead  will  be  difficultly  obtained  here, 
I  beg  you  to  send  the  one  belonging  to  the  bed.  Mrs.  Sedgwick 
would  be  glad  to  have  a  glass,  the  cost  of  which  was  from  six  to 
eight  pounds.  If  it  cannot  be  safely  sent  with  the  other  things, 
(which  I  believe  is  the  case,)  I  beg  to  have  it  put  in  some  place 
of  security  till  winter.  If  one  of  your  small  tables  can  be  spared, 
I  shall  be  glad  of  it.  If  your  Parson  would  be  kind  enough  to  give 
me  the  reading  of  Goldsmith's  R.  History,  I  shall  be  much  obliged 
to  him.  Pray  send  me  the  volume  of  Hume  which  you  have.  I 
am  sorry  to  give  you  any  trouble  about  these  matters,  at  a  time 
when  your  whole  attention  may  be  required  to  concerns  of  much 
greater  importance. 

It  is  with  extreme  pleasure  I  reflect,  that  during  the  turhulcncy 
of  the  times,  I  have  preserved  entire  my  friendship  and  esteem  for 
the  worthy,  who  have  been  opposed  to  me  in  their  political  creed  ; 
nor  do  I  imagine  that  it  is  possible  to  select  from  the  aggregate  of 
human  follies  and  bigotry,  a  more  sure  and  incontestable  evidence 
of  the  weakness  of  head  and  depravity  of  heart,  than  that  narrow 
and  confined  policy,  which  has  for  its  end  a  uniformity  of  opinions, 
whether  political  or  religious.     I  wish  my  country  happy,  great. 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  117 

and  flourishing ;  I  Avish  her  independent ;  hut  that  she  may  he 
happy  under  the  last,  it  is  necessary  that  she  become  wise,  virtu- 
ous, and  tolerant.  There  is  one  Avay  most  certainly  to  know 
whether  a  state  is  or  is  not  actuated  by  a  spirit  of  freedom  :  let 
the  constitution  be  violated,  in  the  person  of  a  subject  obnoxious 
to  popular  resentment,  or  let  his  happiness  be  in  any  way  sported 
with  ;  if  this  gratifies  popular,  malignant  malice,  and  no  murmur- 
ings  or  disturbances  ensue,  it  is  a  sure  indication  that  not  only  the 
flame,  but  that  every  spark  of  liberty  is  extinct.  The  contest  has 
(God  knows)  been  attended  with  distressing  consequences  enough  ; 
"  light  has  begun  to  spring  out  of  darkness."  We  now  ought  to 
make  even  our  enemies  know  and  feel,  that  we  had  valuable  ends 
in  view,  in  opposing  the  pretensions  of  Britain  ;  by  rendering  our 
government  sweet,  it  would  become  palatable ;  in  this  way  we 
might,  we  may  have  a  great  and  glorious  revenge ;  and  all  men, 
almost,  will  wish  for  the  salvation  of  that,  (be  it  what  it  may,) 
which  is  a  constant  source  of  happiness  to  them. 

I  shall  expect  by  Hendrick  to  receive  a  letter  from  you  ]  if 
there  is  any  thing  in  which  I  can  render  service  to  any  of  the  dear 
little  ones,  or  any  other  of  your  friends,  pray  mention  it.  When 
I  was  at  your  house  you  said  your  oldest  son  had  contracted  a 
great  degree  of  bashfulness,  since  he  left  New-York ;  if  he  can  be 
prevailed  upon,  perhaps  it  may  not  be  disadvantageous  for  him  to 
spend  some  time  with  me.  I  have  a  young  lad,  the  son  of  Mr. 
Hopkins,  who  will  be  company  for  him,  and  may  perhaps  prevent 
his  pining  for  home.  My  good  wife,  my  dear  sir,  has  desired  me 
to  tell  you,  she  wishes  you  all  the  happiness  which  the  warmest 
imagination  can  desire. 

I  hope  and  believe  your  separation  from  your  country  and 
friends,  will  be  of  short  continuance ;  in  the  mean  time,  may  God 
Almighty  send  you  every  comfort,  deserved  health,  the  smiles  of 
friends,  and  successful  fortune.  I  am  much  mistaken,  if  it  would 
not  be  an  unnecessary  request  to  desire  you  to  kindly  and  even  af- 
fectionately remember. 

My  dear  friend, 

Your  sincerely  affectionate 

Theodore  Sedgwick. 


118  THE     LIFE      OF 


TO   THEODORE    SEDGWICK. 

Kinclerhook,  13th  Aug.,  1778. 

Mv  PEAR  Sir  : 

Ilendrick  goes  off  in  the  morning,  but  cannot  carry  all  you 
write  for.     What  he  takes  is  noted  at  bottom. 

Your  letter  breathes  the  spirit  and  speaks  the  language  of  true 
friendship.  In  the  "  melting  mood,"  which  in  my  present  situation 
I  so  often  feel,  when  the  remembrance  of  past  happy  days,  and  the 
gloomy  prospect  of  the  future,  agitate  my  mind,  nothing  can  be 
more  agreeable  than  sentiments  so  congenial  to  those  I  feel  for 
you.  From  the  first  day  of  our  acquaintance,  my  dear  friend,  I 
felt  for  you  sentiments  of  esteem  which  have  continually  grown 
upon  me.  I  was  'prepared  to  regard  you,  from  what  I  had  heard  of 
your  liberality  of  mind,  and  I  was  not  disappointed.  God  forbid 
I  should  ever  usurp  the  prerogative  of  Heaven,  in  condemning  a 
man  for  his  sentiments,  however  different  from  mine;  and  if  I 
know  myself,  no  reverse  of  fortune  would  ever  make  me  adopt  so 
inquisitorial  an  idea. 

Your  tender  mention  of  the  dear  little  pledges,  left  me  by  one 
who,  I  trust,  is  now  a  saint  in  heaven,  I  shall  never  forget.  De- 
prived, as  they  are,  of  one  of  the  fondest  of  parents  by  the  visita- 
tion of  God,  and  soon  to  be  of  another,  not  indeed  for  his  crimes, 
nor  even  indiscretion,  but  because  he  dares  think  for  himself,  their 
dependence  must  be,  next  to  divine  Providence,  on  the  worthy  and 
the  humane.  A  virtuous  education  is  what  I  most  ardently  wish  they 
may  have,  and  on  that  subject  shall  perhaps  throw  on  paper  some 
thoughts  before  I  go  away,  but  certainly  before  I  leave  the  coun- 
try. These,  with  a  number  of  papers  relating  to  their  never 
enough  to  be  regretted  mother,  I  shall  leave  with  your  colleague 
Mr.  Silvester.  These  affecting  subjects  almost  overcome  me,  at 
particular  times. 

I  wish  you  and  JNIrs.  Sedgwick,  my  dear  sir,  every  degree  of 
happiness,  and  be  assured,  the  highest  will  be  found  to  consist,  not 
in  the  bustle  of  the  world,  but  in  the  calm  sunshine  of  domestic 
life.  May  it  be  long,  very  long,  before  either  of  you  experience 
the  miseries  of  a  separation.     Present  my  most  respectful  compli- 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  119 

merits,  with  these  my  good  wishes,  to  her,  Mrs.  Dwiglit,  and  the 
rest  of  your  connections,  and  believe  me. 

Most  affectionately  yours, 

p.  V.  ScHAACK. 

We  set  out  to-morrow  or  next  day.     Col.  Burr,  I  hear  with 
pleasure,  is  to  escort  us. 

THEODORE  SEDGWICK  TO  AARON  BURR.* 

Kinderhoo/c,  August  1th,  1778. 
My  dear  Sir: 

I  write  you  in  haste  by  Mr.  Van  Schaack,  who  will  convey  it 
to  you,  should  you  be  at  West  Point.  This  gentleman  has,  by 
long  acquaintance,  manifested  such  qualities  as  have  much  attracted 
me  to  his  interest ;  but,  most  unfortunately  for  his  friends,  has  dif- 
fered in  political  opinions  from  the  body  of  the  community  in  gen- 
eral, and  from  me  in  particular,!  in  consequence  of  which  differ- 
ence, (by  means  of  the  test  act  of  this  State,)  he  is  about  to  be  re- 
moved to  the  city  of  New-York ;  and  has  been  so  obliging  as  to 
offer  me  his  assistance  in  procuring  for,  and  sending?  to  me,  some 
family  necessaries.  Should  it  be  in  your  power,  I  am  sure  it 
would  be  an  unnecessary  request,  to  desire  you  to  lend  your  assist- 
ance; nor  need  I  desire  you  to  render  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  short 
stay  among  you  as  agreeable  as  his  and  your  circumstances  will 
permit. 

I  most  sincerely  congratulate  you  on  the  happy  prospect  of  a 
speedy  termination  of  the  war.  I  believe  I  shall  visit  the  camp 
soon,  in  which  case  you  will  have  the  pleasure  to  see  Mr.  Edwards 
in  company.  I  have,  since  I  saw  you,  become  the  father  of  a  sec- 
ond daughter.  Pamela  has  had  a  most  tedious  and  dangerous 
illness,  but  is,  thank  God,  now,  for  her,  very  well.  You  may  be 
sure  she  will  be  glad  to  be  affectionately  remembered  by  you. 

Yours,  most  sincerely, 

Theodore  Sedgwick. 

*  Life  of  Burr,  Vol.  I.  p.  131. 

t  Judge  Sedgwick  took  particular  pains  to  convince  Mr.  Van  Schaack  of 
the  propriety  of  his  joining  the  popular  side  of  the  question,  and  visited  liim, 
at  Kinderhook,  several  times  for  that  purpose.  On  his  return  from  one  of 
these  visits,  he  compared  ^Ir.  V.  S.  to  "  a  tall,  noble  pine,  perfectly  straight, 
only'it  inclined  a  little  at  the  top"  (towards  England.) 


120  THE      LIFE     OF 

On  the  nineteenth  of  August,  when  on  his  way  to  New-York, 
Mr.  Van  Schaack  had  an  interview  with  Governor  Clinton,  at 
Pouo^hkeepsie,  which  was  then  the  seat  of  government.  On  this 
occasion  he  had  the  satisfaction  to  receive  from  the  Governor  an 
assurance,  *'  that  he  did  not  think  him  a  proper  object  of  the  act, 
by  color  of  which  he  was  proceeded  against,  for  that  his  con- 
duct had  been  different  from  that  which  was  the  object  of  the  act ; 
that  his  character  was  not  equivocal,  or  suspicious,  but  w^ell  under- 
stood ;  for,  that  though  averse  to  the  public  measures,  and  as  such 
he  had  been  put  under  parole,  yet,  having  never  violated  that  pa- 
role, he  would  consider  him  as  a  British  prisoner."  At  this  inter- 
view. Governor  Clinton  gave  Mr.  Van  Schaack  the  following 
certificate  : 

"  At  the  request  of  Peter  Van  Schaack,  Esq.,  of  the  county  of 
Albany,  I  do  certify,  that  he  made  application  to  me,  in  the 
beginning  of  June  last,  for  permission  to  go  to  England,  on  account 
of  a  cataract  in  one  of  his  eyes,  and  for  the  purpose  of  having  an 
operation  performed  upon  it  by  an  oculist,  and  that  I  promised  him 
permission,  whenever  the  state  of  public  affairs  should  render  it  ex- 
pedient.    Dated  at  Poughkeepsie,  this  19th  day  of  August,  1778. 

Geo.  Clinton, 
Gov'r  of  the  Slate  of  JVew-York:' 

The  evident  design  of  this  paper  was,  to  arrest  the  proceedings 
before  the  commissioners  of  conspiracies,  and  Mr.  Van  Schaack 
immediately  transmitted  a  duplicate  of  it  to  Albany.  On  the  sup- 
position that  the  Board  had  only  made  the  order  for  his  removal, 
and  had  not  yet  caused  his  name  to  be  recorded  in  the  Secretary 
of  State's  office,  it  would  probably  have  been  competent  to  have 
arrested  the  proceedings  against  him  in  that  stage  ;  but,  after  the 
recording,  the  legislative  act  became  perfect.  Unfortunately,  Mr. 
Van  Schaack's  name  was  recorded  with  others,  before  the  certificate 
was  received  by  the  board  of  commissioners  ;  and  the  archives  of 
the  State  of  New-York  were  defaced  by  a  proceeding,  which  will 
scarcely  bear  the  calm  and  satisfactory  review  of  an  enhghtened 
posterity ! 

The  day  previous  to  his  departure  from  Kinderhook  for  New- 
York,  to  take  passage  for  England,  he  addressed  a  letter  to  his 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  121 

friend  Mr.  Jay.  It  was  pro])al)ly  the  only  letter  bearing  an  appear- 
ance of  harshness,  whicli  passed  between  them  during  an  intimate 
friendship  and  correspondence  of  nearly  seventy  years ;  and  even 
this  letter,  as  will  be  perceived,  closes  with  an  unreserved  expres- 
sion oi"  personaP^  regard. 

TO  JOHN  JAY. 

Kinderhook,  14th  August,  1778. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  owe  it  to  the  friendship  which  formerly  subsisted  between  us, 
to  explain  myself  on  a  very  serious  subject,  before  I  quit  this  coun- 
try, perhaps  forever.  The  charitable  construction  which  every 
man  w^ould  wish  to  be  put  upon  his  own  conduct,  will,  I  hope, 
induce  you  to  do  justice  to  my  principles;  principles  not  formed 
without  consideration ;  not  dependent  on  undecisive  events,  and 
not  to  be  deserted  at  the  approach  of  danger. 

I  suffer,  sir,  as  you  must  see,  for  a  difference  of  opinion  merely, 
on  a  question  wherein  I  am  not  only  justifiable,  but  under  the  most 
sacred  obligation  to  exercise  my  own  private  judgment.  In  a  case 
like  this,  involving  considerations  of  moral  duty,  there  can  be  no 
choice,  and  he  who  disobeys  the  dictates  of  his  own  mind,  stands 
convicted.  Punishment  by  the  civil  power  for  a  difference  of 
opinion  in  the  abstract,  will  be  reprobated  by  every  liberal  man  ; 
but,  in  the  present  case,  its  justice  is  derived  from  the  dangerous 
tendency  of  those  opinions,  in  that  they  uphold  a  supremacy/orei^Ti 
to  the  government  of  the  state.  They  are  hut  opinions,  neverthe- 
less ;  and  that  their  evil  tendency  cannot  be  restrained,  or  prevented, 
without  so  harsh  a  measure  as  the  present,  I  believe  will  not,  when 
considered  without  passion,  be  believed  :  and  if  it  can,  the  govern- 
ment (which,  too,  is  not  exempt  from  obligation.)  is  bound  to 
adopt  more  lenient  methods. 

Whoever  recurs  to  the  origin  of  the  present  war,  must  admit, 
(unless  he  arrogates  to  himself  infaUibility,  and  supposes,  more- 
over, that  no  man  can  really  differ  from  him  and  be  innocent,)  that 
there  were  many  men,  who,  from  principle,  dissented  from  the  pub- 
lic measures;  and  if  there  were  others,  who  were  not  actuated  by 
principle,  I  beheve  this  was  not  peculiar  to  one  side.  All,  how- 
ever, had  a  right  to  take  their  part.     These  men,  according  to  the 

16 


J 


122  THE     LIFE     OF 

laws  of  nature  and  of  nations,  should  have  been  permitted,  in  the 
beginning  of  the  war,  to  remove  ;  or,  if  detained,  it  could  only  be 
as  prisoners  of  war,  or,  at  most,  a  passive  obedience  to  the  laws, 
and  not  the  active  services  of  subjects,  ought  to  have  been  required 
of  them.  The  declaration  of  war  from  the  crown  of  Great  Britain, 
in  1756,  permitted  all  the  subjects  of  the  French  king  then  in 
England  to  remove  with  their  effects,  or  promised  them  the  pro- 
tection of  the  laws;  and  this,  I  believe,  is  the  general  practice  in 
Europe.  A  different  policy,  however,  has  here  prevailed,  the  par- 
ticulars of  which  I  need  not  enumerate,  and  the  effects  have  been 
just  what  might  have  been  expected  from  such  a  system  ;  but  the 
difficulties  which  have  arisen  from  the  attempts  to  compel  the 
consciences  of  men,  ought  not  surely  to  be  imputed  to  them. 

The  harshness  of  the  present  act,  is  aggravated  by  the  change 
of  circumstances,  and  converts  that  which  was  a  right,  into  a  pun- 
ishment ;  and  makes  that  severity  in  the  government,  which  was 
heretofore  incumbent  on  them  as  an  act  of  justice.  Consider,  sir, 
you  have  derived  aids  from  these  people  in  the  prosecution  of  the 
war,  and  have  detained  them  in  the  most  perilous  times ;  and  now, 
when  in  the  declared  sense  of  the  people  in  power  the  danger  sub- 
sides, by  an  inverted  order  the  severity  increases.  Is  this  answer- 
ing the  design  of  punishment  ?  Is  it  conformable  to  those  reasons, 
upon  the  strength  of  which,  the  few  are  raised  above  the  many  ?  Is 
it  consistent  with  that  justice  due  to  individuals,  from  which  rulers 
cannot  divest  themselves  ?  or  is  it  in  the  least  agreeable  to  the  spirit 
of  the  law  of  Solon  against  neutrality,  which  I  have  heard  you 
quote  ? 

Let  me  entreat  you  to  recur  to  first  principles ;  your  govern- 
ment, professed  to  be  formed  upon  them,  is  too  young  to  excuse  in- 
attention to  them.  Read  with  the  same  temper  you  vsed,  Locke, 
Montesquieu  and  Beccaria,  upon  the  rights  of  individuals,  and  the 
duties  of  those  in  power,  and  compai'e  them  with  the  present  'prac- 
tice, and  I  fancy  you  will  think  that  Great  Britain  has  not  alone 
trampled  upon  the  rights  of  mankind. 

Whatever  may  be  urged  in  favor  of  the  act,  I  must  think  that 
I  suffer,  even  in  the  sense  of  my  prosecutors,  for  an  involuntary 
error  of  the  mind,  or,  at  most,  for  the  omission  of  a  moral  duty — 
neither  of  which  are  cognizable  by  the  civil  authority.     In  the 


TETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  123 

thirty-eighth  article  of  your  Constitution,  the  rights  of  conscience 
are  separated  by  a  clear  boundary,  from  matters  of  civil  cognizance. 
All  religious  professions  are  placed  on  the  same  foot,  without  dis- 
crimination, in  which  one  religion  is  included,  the  members  where- 
of uphold  a  foreign  supremacy,  and  which  we  are  assured  has 
"  deluged  Great  Britain  with  blood,  and  dispersed  impiety,  bigotry, 
persecution,  murder  and  rebellion,  through  every  part  of  the  world  ;" 
and  yet  even  to  this,  in  common  with  the  rest,  no  other  restriction 
is  added,  than  that  it  shall  not  excuse  "  acts  of  licentiousness,  or 
justify  "practices  inconsistent  wnth  the  peace  and  safety  of  the  state." 
It  is  true,  they  may  be  called  upon  to  take  an  oath  of  abjuration, 
as  well  as  of  allegiance,  previous  to  their  naturalization ;  but  I 
need  not  to  you  prove,  that  this  does  not  in  the  least  weaken  the 
inference  I  would  draw. 

With  the  loyalist, however,  the  case  is  different;  for/ie,  consis- 
tent with  his  principles,  may  be  laid  under  obligations  atTording 
ample  security  to  the  public ;  which,  according  to  a  w^ell-informed 
conscience,  are  binding  ;  and  1  must  think  that  he,  no  more  than 
other  men,  is  to  be  farther  punished  than  necessity  (which  alone 
can  justify  any  punishment)  requires. 

I  readily  waive  any  arguments  drawn  from  the  belief  the  oath 
requires,  of  the  independency  of  this  State  both  of  right  and  in 
foct  ;  the  latter,  in  one  sense  at  least,  dismembered  as  the  State  is, 
is  not  true ;  the  former  is  yet  sub  judice,  and  undecided.  I  am 
willing  to  consider  it,  for  my  own  part,  as  a  simple  oath  of  allegi- 
ance ;  and  in  that  view,  I  think  it  is  manifestly  improper  to  tender 
it  to  persons  of  opposite  principles,  because  it  is  a  temptation  to 
perjury,  in  attacking  human  weakness  in  its  most  vulnerable  parts; 
because,  if  taken,  it  adds  no  obligation  in  point  of  morality  upon 
the  man  it  is  tendered  to,  since  a  man  by  his  voluntary  act  cannot 
discharge  himself  from  a  prior  duty,  and  because,  therefore,  it  gives 
no  security  to  the  public ;  and  I  think  this  measure  most  cruel,  be- 
cause it  is  carried  on  at  a  time  when  no  state  necessity  (which, 
though  sometimes  a  reality  is  oftener  a  phantom,  to  which  num- 
bers of  virtuous  men  have  been  made  victims,)  can  be  pretended  to 
justify  it.  It  is  cruel,  because  it  operates  against  men  in  that  situa- 
tion, whereto  they  are  reduced,  not  by  choice,  but  by  a  different 
way  of  thinking,  on  a  subject  they  had  a  right  to  judge  and  deter- 
mine upon. 


124  THE     LIFE     OF 

If  I  could  entirely  overcome  that  quickness  of  sensibility,  which 
a  series  of  inauspicious  events  in  my  family,  and  a  fatal  reverse  of 
fortune  convincing  me  of  the  instability  of  all  human  happiness, 
have  greatly  abated,  I  should  forbear  mentioning  what  I  felt  at 
being  called  upon  under  the  description  of  this  act ;  an  act  which 
contains  language  better  adapted  to  the  channel  of  a  newspaper, 
than  to  convey  the  dispassionate  sense  of  the  Legislature.  I  own, 
sir,  I  have  said,  that  I  did  not  think  any  man  would  choose  to  tell 
me,  that  any  of  the  characteristic  marks  of  description  it  contains, 
are  applicable  to  me.  I  have  not  affected,  but  maintained,  as  far 
as  I  could,  a  neutrality.  1  was  your  prisoner,  and  under  parole  to 
do  so ;  and  surely  it  argued  no  poverty  of  spirit,  or  undue  attach- 
ment to  property  ;  nor  was  it  "  unmanly  or  ignominious,"  to  adhere 
to  the  faith  I  had  given  you,  nor  did  I  want  to  "shelter  myself  un- 
der your  government ;"  and  if  it  was  known  that  I  had  endeavored 
to  "  undermine  or  subvert  it,"  (and  without  being  known  it  ought 
not  surely  to  have  been  asserted,)  I  was  amenable  to  your  courts. 

I  say,  I  have,  as  far  as  I  could,  maintained  a  neutrality ;  for 
this  has  not  been  left  at  my  option.  Notwithstanding  my  local 
restrictions,  notwithstanding  my  being  disarmed,  I  have  been  com- 
pelled to  pay  sums  of  money,  and  have  been  tried  by  a  court  mar- 
tial for  not  marching  in  arms,  and  doing  the  duties  of  a  soldier. 
Does  not  this  remind  one  of  the  bed  of  Procrustes  ?  and  surely  a 
very  small  share  of  gratitude  would  suffice  for  such  protection. 
Permit  me  to  observe,  by  the  by,  that  many  instances  of  the  breach 
of  faith  you  have  met  with,  I  fancy  have  arisen  from  like  treatment; 
added  to  this  consideration,  that  persons  of  opposite  sentiments 
have  never  known  the  extent  of  their  punishment,  nor  were  placed 
in  any  situation  where  they  could  have  that  reasonable  assurance 
of  their  safety,  which  is  necessary  to  enjoy  peace  of  mind  in 
society. 

Whatever  the  policy  may  be  of  banishing  me  from  my  native 
country,  I  dare  confidently  say  that  my  political  principles  are  not 
incompatible,  either  with  the  just  rights  of  government,  or  the 
liberties  of  a  free  people.  I  may  have  erred  in  the  application  of 
them  in  a  contested  point,  but  as  they  have  been  formed  with  all 
the  consideration  I  was  master  of,  I  hope  I  may  say  that  I  am  in- 
nocent in  this  respect ;  at  least,  I  think  that  in  a  question  depending 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  125 

on  opinion  only,  and  wherein  every  man  has  a  right  and  is  hound 
to  determine  according  to  his  own  opinion,  he  is  accountable  only 
for  the  lair  and  impartial  exercise  of  his  judgment ;  and  as  no 
human  tribunal  can  examine  this,  so  they  ought  not  to  punish  him 
for  the  result.  Motives  of  sdf-preservation  alone  can  justify  a 
State  in  banishing  a  n:!an  who  is  chargeable,  not  with  transgression 
of  law,  but  with  a  mere  diiierence  of  opinion ;  every  severity  be- 
sides, as  an  act  of  vindictive  justice,  is  unpardonable.  The  reasons 
assigned  for  the  double  taxation  are  totally  insufficient,  as  a  mo- 
ment's reflection  will  show  you ;  nor  can  I  be  very  thankful  for 
the  forbearance  of  my  countrymen.  God  knows  I  have  seldom 
experienced  it  but  when  I  solicited  favors ;  favors  of  small  conse- 
quence to  be  granted,  but  to  me  of  inestimable  value  ! 

You  cannot  but  remember,  that  so  early  as  January,  1777, 1 
declared  my  desire  to  leave  this  State,  and  endeavored  to  prove  it 
ray  right.  I  was  promised  a  hearing  upon  the  merits  of  my  appli- 
cation, which  at  that  time  was  postponed  through  a  multiplicity  of 
business.  I  think  it  was  the  right  of  every  man  affected  by  this 
act,  to  be  heard  before  it  passed.  In  cases  of  particular  laws, 
especially  such  as  inflict  pains  and  penalties,  this  is  a  practice  not 
to  be  departed  from,  and  the  pretence  of  state  necessity,  you  know, 
in  instances  familiar  to  us,  has  not  been  deemed  a  justification. 
Upon  a  fair  estimate,  and  upon  a  large  scale,  I  fancy  the  deviations 
from  general  established  principles  very  seldom  happen,  without 
introducing  greater  and  more  permanent  mischiefs  than  those  they 
are  calculated  to  remove. 

I  shall  make  no  apology  for  the  length  of  this  letter,  as  it  is 
probably  the  last  I  shall  ever  trouble  you  with.  I  thought  it  a 
tribute  due  to  that  friendship,  which  was  equally  my  pride  and  my 
pleasure  ;  a  friendship  of  which  I  do  not  remind  you  for  the  sake 
of  favors,  and  from  the  obligations  of  which,  on  his  part,  I  am 
willing  to  acquit  any  man  who  can  think  me  deserving  of  the 
usage  I  have  received. 

I  wish  you  to  show"  this  letter  to  our  mutual  friend,  Benson,  to 
whom  I  intended  likewise  to  have  written ;  but  my  eyes  will  not 
admit  of  it.  I  own  I  have  something  particular  to  say  to  hiin. 
What  passed  between  the  Governor  and  me  last  June,  I  have  com- 
municated to  him  3  what  happened  in  April,  1777,  when  I  was  at 


126  THE     LIFE     OF 

Kingston,  you  know.  Compare  the  whole  together,  and  you  will 
think  my  situation  somewhat  particular.  I  am,  in  every  personal 
respect,  his,  and, 

Dear  sir,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 


Let  us  here  take  a  brief  review  of  the  circumstances  connected 
with  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  banishment,  to  enable  us  to  form  some 
opinion  of  the  justice  or  necessity  of  inflicting  so  severe  a  punish- 
ment upon  him,  merely  because  he  conscientiously  entertained  cer- 
tain pohtical  sentiments. 

The  campaign  of  1777  had  terminated  in  triumph  to  the 
American  arms.  The  great  and  leading  movement  marked  out  by 
the  British  government  for  the  conduct  of  their  forces  in  the  Ameri- 
can war — the  junction  of  the  royal  armies  from  Canada  and  New- 
York — had  been  frustrated,  and  had  resulted  in  the  disastrous 
retreat  of  Col.  St.  Leger  from  before  Fort  Schuyler,  and  the  sur- 
render of  the  army  of  General  Burgoyne.  A  treaty  of  friendship 
and  commerce  with  France  had  been  formed,  on  the  sixth  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1778,  thereby  not  only  securing  to  the  United  States  the 
direct  aid  and  co-operation  of  that  power,  but  essentially  strength- 
ening the  American  cause  with  the  other  powers  of  Europe,  and 
weakening  Britain,  by  involving  her  in  war  with  her  immediate 
neighbors  on  the  continent.  The  British  government  had  betrayed 
their  alarm  on  this  occasion,  as  was  sufficiently  shown  by  the  sud- 
den introduction  of  Lord  North's  "  conciliatory  bills"  into  Parlia- 
ment, and  the  indecent  haste  with  which  they  had  been  despatched 
to  America,  before  they  had  passed  through  the  ordinary  forms  of 
legislation.  The  alliance  with  France,  which  had  excited  this 
alarm  in  Britain,  had  inspired  confidence  at  home,  and  the  Conti- 
nental Congress  issued  "  an  address  to  the  people  of  America,  on  this 
occasion  of  a  new  and  most  propitious  crisis  in  their  affairs."  At 
this  period,  when  there  was  a  bright  prospect  of  peace,*  the  Lcgis- 


*  See  Mr.  Jay's  short  letter,  without  date,  but  written  in  the  early  part  of 
April,  1778,  in  which  he  says,  "  the  wise  ones  say,  we  shall  go  to  New- York 
next  winter.''  See  also  ^Ir.  Sedgwick's  letter  to  Col.  Burr,  in  which  he  con- 
gratulates hira  on  the  prospect  of  peace. 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  127 

lature  of  New-York  passed  the  hanislilng  act,  and  their  commis- 
sioners commenced  executing  its  provisions. 

In  respect  to  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  conduct,  it  was  not  pretended 
that  he  had  been  guilty  of  any  acts,  to  subject  him  to  punishment, 
or  tliat  he  had  done  any  tiling  from  which  a  disposition  could  be 
inferred,  to  embarrass  the  public  measures.  He  had  conscientiously 
maintained  a  strict  neutrality.  Neither  the  governor  nor  the  com- 
missioners considered  him  an  object  of  the  'penalties  of  the  act 
under  which  proceedings  were  had  against  him,  and  to  whose 
letter  he  was  now  sacrificed.  It  would  seem  that  his  personal 
situation  should  have  exempted  him  from  those  proceedings,  broken- 
hearted and  borne  dowm  as  he  was  by  a  long  succession  of  domestic 
afflictions,  and  by  the  visitation  of  disease  in  one  of  its  severest 
forms  in  his  own  person.  An  individual  friendly  to  the  public 
measures  would  scarcely  have  been  required  to  take  up  arms  in  a 
similar  situation ;  and,  on  principle,  his  conscientious  scruples  on 
this  subject,  deserved  as  much  consideration  as  those  of  the  Quaker. 
Many  persons  who  were  unfriendly  to  the  Revolution,  and  who  had 
not  such  strong  claims  upon  the  sympathy  and  forbearance  of  their 
countrymen,  were  suffered  by  the  public  authorities  to  remain  un- 
molested in  their  inactivity.  History  informs  us,  that  Aristides  the 
Just  was  ostracized :  and  it  may  perhaps  be  regarded  as  a  compli- 
ment to  Mr.  Van  Schaack,  that  his  integrity  and  elevation  of 
character  should  have  been  such,  as  to  have  secured  for  him  an 
influence,  which,  although  unexerted,  in  the  eye  of  the  public  au- 
thorities rendered  his  example  in  his  retirement  so  dangerous,  as 
to  require  his  banishment  from  his  native  country ; — for  it  was  to 
the  supposed  existence  of  that  silent  influence  alone,  arising  from 
the  fact  that  he  entertained  certain  political  sentiments,  that  we  are 
to  ascribe  his  ostracism. 

Another  circumstance  merits  consideration,  and  is  important,  in 
estimating  the  propriety  of  the  proceedings  against  Mr.  Van  Schaack 
under  the  banishing  act.  At  the  time  these  proceedings  were  in- 
stituted, he  was  residing  in  retirement,  at  Kinderhook,  upon  his 
parole  of  honor,  taken  by  the  Convention  of  New-York,  on  the 
fourth  of  April,  1777.  In  the  proceedings  of  the  Convention  at 
that  period,  he  had  a  pledge  that  he  should  have  a  hearing  upon 
the  merits  of  his  previous   application.     In  his  memorial  to  that 


128  THE     LIFE     OF 

body,  he  had  claimed  the  privilege  of  removing  from  the  State 
with  his  family  and  effects,  in  the  exercise  of  what  he  maintained 
was  his  right.  In  canvassing  that  right,  it  should  be  borne  in 
mind,  that  neither  at  the  date  of  his  letter  to  the  Convention,  nor 
on  the  fourth  of  April,  when  their  order  w^as  made,  had  a  constitu- 
tion for  the  State  as  yet  been  adopted.*  Nor  ought  his  apphcation 
to  have  been  prejudiced,  by  the  subsequent  adoption  of  the  consti- 
tution, and  the  regular  organization  of  the  State  government  under 
it,  or  by  the  banishing  act,  which  had  been  enacted  by  the  first 
Legislature  under  that  instrument.  The  Convention  had  restrained 
him  by  his  parole,  from  leaving  his  native  place,  and  they  had 
postponed  a  hearing  upon  his  memorial,  to  suit  their  own  convenience. 
The  injustice  of  now  compelling  him  to  leave  his  native  coun- 
try, without  according  to  him  the  pledged  hearing,  under  the  igno- 
minious ban  of  banishment,  to  which  was  attached  the  very  severe 
penalties  of  a  "  double  taxation"  of  his  property,  and  a  conviction 
of  his  person  for  "  misprision  of  treason,"  in  case  of  a  return  to  the 
State,  would  seem  to  be  manifest.  Charity  would  lead  us  to  suppose, 
that  in  the  confusion  of  a  civil  war,  the  peculiarity  of  his  case  and 
situation  was  overlooked,  or  not  sufficiently  estimated  by  those  in 
power  ;  or,  perhaps,  a  "  political  necessity,"  whether  fancied  or 
real,  regarded  it  as  one  of  those  "  cases,  in  which"  (according  to 
an  eloquent  writer,)  "  a  veil  should  be  drawn  for  a  while  over  Lib- 
erty, as  it  was  customary  to  cover  the  statues  of  the  gods." 

*  The  constitution  was  adopted  20th  April,   1777,  and  the  new    State  gov- 
ernment was  not  organized  until  several  months  afterwards. 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  129 


CHAPTER    VII. 

It  will  here  be  proper  to  recur  to  the  severe  and  various  afflic- 
tions with  which  Mr.  Van  Schaack  had  been  visited,  during  a 
period  of  about  eight  years  previous  to  his  departure  for  England. 
He  had,  in  that  time,  interred  six  children,  several  of  whom  had 
arrived  at  an  interestino^  ac^e,  and  two  of  whom  had  been  taken 
away  under  the  trying  circumstances  which  have  been  detailed. 
He  had  buried  his  father,  and  parted  with  his  father-in-law  under 
circumstances  rendering  it  probable  that  the  separation  would  be 
final.  He  had  lost  the  sight  of  one  eye  entirely,  and  had  the  fear 
of  total  blindness  in  both  ever  present  to  his  mind.  A  promising 
professional  business  had  been  suddenly  arrested  by  the  public 
troubles,  which  had  destroyed  his  prospects  of  fame  and^usefulness. 
He  found  himself  the  object  of  suspicion,  and  had  been  harassed  by 
proceedings  of  a  most  unpleasant  character.  He  was  separated  by 
an  unyielding  principle,  having  its  foundation  in  conscientious 
scruples,  from  his  earliest  and  most  intimate  friends ;  and  death 
had  just  taken  from  him  the  wife  of  his  bosom.  It  was  no  doubt 
in  reference  to  all  these  trials  and  afflictions, — domestic,  personal,  so- 
cial, and  civil, — and  when,  superadded  thereto,  he  was  removed  to  a 
distance  of  three  thousand  miles  from  his  kindred  and  friends,  an 
exile  in  a  foreign  land, — that  Mr.  Van  Schaack  selected  as  his 
motto,  the  following  philosophic  sentiment  from  his  favorite  Vir- 
gil: 

Super  anda  fortuna  ferendo.^ 

His  impressions  on  taking  leave  of  his  native  place  are  thus 
recorded  in  his  journal. 

*  Quid  quid  erit,  superanda  omnis  forhma  fcrcndo  est.  ^neid,  B.  V.  1,  710. 
Mr.  V.  S.  had  several  other  mottos  in  view,  all  of  which  were  significant  :  one 
was  Jlecti  11071  frangi  ;  auoVaer  duris  nonfrangor.  The  one  selected  by  him 
was  more  philosophically  elegant. 

17 


130  THE      LIFE      OF 

"  On  the  fifteenth  of  August,  1778,  I  set  out  from  Kinderhook 
for  New-York.  The  very  pecuHar  circumstances  of  my  situation, 
as  it  was  atTected  by  and  connected  with  the  pubhc  convulsions  of 
the  country,  cannot  here  be  enumerated.  They  may  be  collected 
from  my  papers  upon  this  momentous  subject,  from  which  I  hope 
it  will  appear,  that  the  pait  I  have  acted  may  be  reconciled  to  the 
strictest  integrity,  however  impolitic  or  injudicious  it  may  be 
thought  to  have  been.  The  sphere  wherein  7ny  actions  or  concerns 
can  be  of  any  consequence,  is  small.  It  is  confined  to  my  children, 
iny  family,  my  friends.  To  the  first,  I  would  wish  to  leave  a 
character  which  may  afford  examples  worthy  of  their  imitation, 
and  among  my  friends  I  hope  some  will  be  found,  who  will  rescue 
that  character  from  misrepresentation,  and  protect  it  from  unjust 
censure.  Such  as  may  think  my  principles  have  been  erroneous, 
while  they  point  out  their  errors,  it  is  hoped  they  will  do  me  the 
justice  to  say,  that  they  were  not  hastily  or  passionately  adopted, 
nor  maintained  with  bigotry  or  want  of  candor.  Frail  man  has 
only  the  dim  light  of  opinion  to  conduct  him  through  the  mazes 
of  life,  or  to  assist  him  in  judging  of  the  principles  and  conduct  of 
his  fellow-creatures,  and  surely  this  consideration  should  teach  him 
humility,  charity  and  toleration. 

"  Torn  from  the  nearest  and  dearest  of  all  human  connections, 
by  the  visitation  of  Almighty  God,  and  by  means  of  the  pubhc 
troubles  of  my  country,  I  am  now^  goii^^g  into  the  wide  world,  with- 
out friends,  w^ithout  fortune,  with  the  sad  remembrance  of  past  hap- 
piness, and  the  gloomy  prospect  of  future  adversity,  having  no 
other  compass  to  direct  me  than  my  own  frail  understanding,  and 
no  other  consolation  than  that  consciousness  of  my  own  integrity, 
\vhich,  as  far  as  relates  to  the  immediate  cause  of  my  now  leaving 
my  country,  I  possess  in  the  fullest  manner." 

FROM  GOUVERNEUR    MORRIS. 

Philadelphia,  Sth  Septeviher,  1778. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  received  your  favor  of  the  24th  of  last  month  just  now,  and 
I  write  an  answer  which  may  or  may  not  reach  you.  I  am  much 
obliged  by  the  sentiments  you  profess  for  me,  and  I  hope  to  deserve 
them  from  you,  from  all,  from  enemies  and  from  friends.     I  always 


P  E  T  E  11      V  A  N      S  C  H  A  A  C  R-  .  ] .'}  1 

have  regretted,  and  I  trust  I  shall,  that  you  did  not  take  part  with 
us  in  the  cause,  which,  let  the  success  of  it  be  what  it  may,  I  can- 
not but  consider  as  the  just  cause  of  all  mankind.  I  am  particu- 
larly alllicted,  that  you  should  be  now  obliged  to  relinquish  your 
country,  for  opinions  which  are  unfavorable  to  her  rights.  If  I  am 
rightly  informed,  your  situation  is  by  no  means  singular;  a  circum- 
stance which,  I  believe,  is  far  from  alle\iating  your  feelings,  and 
which  most  sincerely  affects  mine. 

What  may  be  the  law  you  allude  to,  I  know  not ;  and  therefore 
shall  not  be  so  hardy  as  to  arraign  its  policy  or  humanity :  should 
it  be  contrary  to  the  principles  of  the  former,  the  infancy  of  the 
state  must  apologize  for  the  defects  of  its  legislature ;  should  it 
revolt  against  the  latter,  while  we  lament  the  consequence,  let  us 
pardon  something  to  the  cause.  Being  men,  w^e  are  all  subject  to 
human  frailty.  We  are  not  therefore  to  be  surprised,  that  some 
sparks  of  resentment  shed  their  baleful  light  on  the  conduct  of 
human  affairs.  I  fear  that  the  very  best  will,  in  the  years  of  cool 
reflection,  pay  melancholy  tribute  of  repentance  to  the  hours  of 
contention.  Adversity  is  the  great  school  of  moderation.  If  any 
of  my  countrymen  are  come  thence  unlearned,  I  wdll  not  blame, 
though  I  cannot  commend  ;  and  let  me  entreat  you  not  to  tell  tales 
of  them  to  high-judging  Job,  or  pray  him  that  he  will  teach  them 
to  feel  what  wretches  feel. 

It  vi'as  always  my  opinion,  that  matters  of  conscience  and  faith, 
whether  political  or  religious,  are  as  much  out  of  the  province,  as 
they  are  beyond  the  ken  of  human  legislatures.  In  the  question 
of  punishment  for  acts,  it  hath  been  my  constant  axiom,  that  the 
object  is  example,  and  therefore  the  thing  only  justifiable  from  the 
necessity,  and  from  the  effect.  1  implore  the  Omnipotent  on  all 
occasions  to  direct  my  conduct  by  this  great,  and  I  trust  just  prin- 
ciple. Could  the  American  contest  have  been  decided  without 
blood,  I  should  have  been  happy.  While  the  appeal  lay  to  reason, 
I  reasoned  ;  when  it  was  made  to  the  sword,  I  thought  it  my  duty 
to  join  in  the  great  issue.  While  reconciliation  appeared  practica- 
ble, I  labored  for  reconciliation.  When  the  breach  was  so  widened 
that  no  hope  remained  of  cure,  I  solemnly  pledged  my  laith  to  sup- 
port the  independence  of  my  country,  which  had  then  become  es- 
sential to  her  liberties.    In  the  hours  of  distress,  I  was  secured  from 


132  THE     LIFE     OF 

fear  by  the  mens  sihi  conscia  recti,  and  the  fla^vning;s  of  prosperity 
have  not  inflated  me,  because  I  have  seen  too  much  of  the  instabi- 
lity of  human  affairs,  to  confide  in  appearances. 

As  I  am  determined  not  to  share  in  gains  which  arise  from 
pubhc  distress,  I  will  continue  in  public  life  till  the  establishment  of 
the  liberties  of  America.  It  shall  be  my  object  to  narrow  as  much 
as  possible  the  circle  of  private  wo.  I  would  to  God,  that  every 
tear  could  be  wiped  away  from  every  eye.  But  so  long  as  there 
are  men,  so  long  it  wnll  and  must  happen  that  they  w^ill  minister 
to  the  miseries  of  each  other.  It  is  a  delightful  object  in  history, 
to  see  order,  and  peace,  and  happiness  result  from  confusion,  and 
Avar  and  distress.  It  is  a  pleasing  hope  in  life.  It  is  your  misfor- 
tune to  be  one  out  of  the  many  who  have  suffered.  In  your  phi- 
losophy, in  yourself,  in  the  consciousness  of  acting  as  you  think 
right,  you  are  to  seek  consolation,  w^hile  you  shape  your  old  course 
in  a  country  new. 

Whatever  may  be  the  fate  of  the  great  controversy,  and  what- 
ever may  be  your  individual  lot,  I  pray  you  to  believe  there  are 
very  few^  who  will  more  rejoice  in * 

"  16th  October,  1778,t  I  embarked  in  the  ship  Rachel,  Tho- 
mas Rounding,  Master,  at  New-York  for  London,  and  on  the  19th, 
sailed  from  Sandy  Hook,  in  a  large  fleet  consisting  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  sail.  The  weather  for  the  first  fortnight  was  extreme- 
ly pleasant,  but  on  the  second  November,  we  met  with  a  heavy 
gale  of  wind,  attended  with  a  good  deal  of  rain,  and  at  twelve 
o'clock  at  night,  the  sound  of  *  all  hands^  announced  some  disaster, 
which  proved  to  be  the  springing  of  our  bowsprit,  which  had  well 
nigh  been  followed  with  the  loss  of  our  masts.  In  this  situation, 
we  fired  signal  guns  of  distress,  notwithstanding  which,  we  were 
left  by  the  whole  fleet ;  but  the  w^ind  providentially  abating,  we 
prevented  further  misfortune,  and  secured  the  bowsprit.  A  leak, 
which  we  perceived  soon  after  we  sailed,  increased  to  such  a  de- 
gree, as  to  oblige  us  to  make  the  first  land  we  could,  one  pump 

*  The  concluding  part  of  this  interesting  letter  is  lost.  The  author's  efforts 
to  procure  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  letter,  to  which  this  is  an  answer,  have  been 
unavailing.     It  was,  no  doubt,  equally  interesting. 

t  From  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  journal. 


PETER      VAN      S  C  II  A  A  C  K  .  133 

being  constantly  employed,  and  sometimes  both ;  and  most  fortu- 
nately Ave  arrived  at  Cork  the  twenty-third  November. 

"The  dangers  of  the  sea  have  been  so  often  displayed,  in  the 
strongest  language  both  of  poetry  and  prose,  that  nothing  can  be 
added  either  to  convey  a  new  idea  of  them  to  those  who  have 
never  seen  them,  or  to  make  the  impression  greater  on  those  who 
have.  Yet  perhaps  the  danger  is  not  so  great,  as  the  horror  of 
those  scenes.  We  can  estimate  danger  only  (short-sighted  as 
"we  are)  by  the  event,  and  by  comparing  the  number  of  escapes 
with  that  of  disasters.  The  thread  of  life  is  subject  every  moment 
to  be  cut  oif,  and  no  situation  secures  us  from  peril.  It  is  the 
providence  of  God  alone,  which  can  protect  us  from  the  number- 
less evils  which  incessantly  surround  us,  and  perhaps  in  the  eye 
of  an  all-seeing  God,  our  danger  is  equal  on  shore  as  at  sea,  in  a 
carriage  as  on  shipboard.  In  the  latter  situation,  however,  it  is 
more  visible,  but  the  reflections  it  ought  to  excite,  should  accom- 
pany us  in  all  circumstances,  even  the  most  prosperous,  of  life. 

"  I  had  not  an  opportunity  of  seeing  much  of  Ireland,  but 
what  I  did  see,  by  no  means  contributed  to  excite  agreeable  re- 
flections. The  poverty  and  ignorance  of  the  people  were  beyond 
my  expectations,  much  as  I  had  heard  of  them.  Beggars  and 
thatched  houses  are  painful  objects  which  continually  present  them- 
selves, and  even  elegant  seats  fail  of  making  a  pleasing  impression, 
when  w^e  consider  that  they  were  raised  out  of  the  sweat  of  such 
numbers  of  the  poor.  The  proud  may  be  pleased  with  seeing 
themselves  the  more  exalted,  in  the  comparison  with  their  fellow 
creatures,  in  proportion  as  they  are  more  depressed ;  but  to  those 
who  have  seen  human  nature  in  a  more  equal  condition,  the  con- 
trast is  distressing.  " 

TO  HIS  SON. 

Cork,  4fh  Dec,  1778. 
My  dearest  Harry  : 

You  wull  hear  of  my  being  in  Ireland.  To-morrow  I  sail  for 
England — but  I  cannot  again  go  to  sea  without  a  word  to  you : 
and  for  fear  of  accidents  to  which  a  sea  voyage  so  much  exposes 
us,  I  cannot  help  giving  you  my  blessing,  lest  it  should  be  the 
last,  which  Heaven  avert. 


134  THE     LIFE     OF 

May  God  Almighty  bless  and  preserve  you,  my  dearest  Harry, 
and  your  dear  little  brother  and  sister,  and  be  assured  this  shall  be 
my  last  and  ex})iring  prayer.  Let  me  indulge  the  pleasing  hope, 
dearest  Harry,  that  you  \vill  cultivate  every  virtuous  principle.  I 
cannot  express  all  my  feelings  on  this  occasion  !  Adieu,  my  dear- 
est son,  and  believe  me  ever,  most  affectionately  and  tenderly, 

Yours, 

P.  Van  Schaack. 

The  reader  will  no  doubt  choose  to  follow  Mr.  Van  Schaack  in 
his  exile.  The  residue  of  this  chapter  will  be  devoted  to  a  few 
selections  from  his  journal,  and  other  manuscripts  WTitten  in  Eng- 
land. Although  they  were  penned  upwards  of  half  a  century  since, 
and  for  the  most  part  treat  of  objects  w^hich  have  been  repeatedly 
described  by  more  recent  (and  perhaps  more  philosophical)  trav- 
ellers, it  is  believed  that  they  will  not  be  found  entirely  destitute  of 
novelty,  or  devoid  of  interest,  and  particularly  when  viewed  in 
connection  with  the  impressions  made  upon  his  mind. 

"  othDecember,  1778,  I  embarked  in  the  Juno  yacht  for  Bristol, 
where  I  arrived  the  7th  December.  A  very  different  country  did 
England  appear  from  that  w-e  had  left;  the  verdure  was  equal  to 
that  of  midsummer. 

"  I  was  shocked  to  fmd  my  father-in-law's  complaint  had 
reached  so  great  a  height.  My  feelings  upon  this  solemn  inter- 
view cannot  be  described,  nor  conceived,  but  by  such  as  have  ex- 
perienced the  same  vicissitudes,  who  have  had  the  same  tender 
connections,  enjoyed  the  same  family  harmony,  looked  forward  to 
the  same  agreeable  prospects,  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  years 
have  seen  the  most  fatal  reverse  of  fortune,  have  had  the  tenderest 
ties  dissolved,  their  families  dispersed,  and  properties  wasted. 

"  In  Bristol  I  saw  most  of  the  public  buildings,  and  about  it 
many  agreeable  villages  and  other  places  of  curiosity.  In  the 
beautiful  village  of  Clifton  is  Sir  William  Draper's  house,  neat  and 
pretty,  and  before  the  door  is  a  monument  erected  to  the  memory 
of  the  officers  and  soldiers  who  fell  at  Manilla.  About  Bristol  are 
some  remains  of  fortifications  of  Britons,  Danes  and  Romans,  as 
well  as  of  more  modern  times.  Cromwell  is  said  to  have  erected 
works  from  which  to  bombard  the  town,  and  part  of  the  cathedral 


PETEK     VAN     SCHAACK.  135 

is  stated  to  have  been  demolished  by  liim  from  Brandon  hill  ; 
though  this  is  denied,  and  what  it  suffered  is  said  to  have  happened 
at  the  dissolution  of  monasteries,  when  it  is  represented  to  have 
been  saved  from  entire  destruction  by  Cardinal  Wolsey. 

'  Epitaph  on  Mrs.  Mason,  hy  Mr.  Mason,  in  Bristol  Cathedral.^ 

'  Take  holy  earth  all  that  my  soul  holds  dear, 

Take  that  best  gift  that  Heav'n  so  lately  gave — 
To  Bristol's  fount  I  bore  with  trembling  care 

Her  faded  form  :  she  bow'd  to  taste  the  wave 
And  died. — Does  youth,  does  beauty  read  these  lines, 

Does  sympathetic  fear  their  breast  alarm  ? 
Speak,  dead  Maria,  breathe  a  strain  divine  ; 

Ev'n  from  the  grave  thou  shalt  have  pow'r  to  charm. 
Bid  them  be  chaste,  be  innocent  like  thee. 

Bid  them  in  duty's  sphere  as  meekly  move  ; 
And  if  so  fair,  from  vanity  as  free. 

As  firm  in  friendship  and  as  fond  in  love. 
Tell  them,  though  'tis  an  awful  thing  to  die, 

('Twas  even  to  thee,)  yet  the  dread  path  once  trod, 
Heav'n  lifts  its  everlasting  portals  high. 

And  bids  the  pure  in  heart  behold  their  God.' 

"  Bath  appeared  truly  astonishing  to  me,  and  contains  too  many 
beauties  to  admit  of  description  within  these  narrow  limits.  The 
houses  are  grand,  magnificent  and  uniform,  more  especially  those 
in  the  Circus,  Crescent  and  Parades,  and  the  pavements  of  flat 
stones  are  like  floors.  The  rooms  are  large  and  superb.  Dissipa- 
tion and  pleasure  here  revel  without  bound,  and  for  the  gay  from 
all  parts  is  this  the  general  resort — some  to  undo,  and  some  to  be 
undone. 

"  14th  January,  1779,  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  I  set  out 
in  a  diligence  from  Bath,  and  ten  at  night  arrived  in  London.  This 
great  city  baffles  all  description,  and  I  felt  myself  like  an  atom  in 
it.  I  found  the  scenes  too  great  forme  to  comprehend,  and  beyond 
my  powers  of  enjoyment;  but  by  degrees  became  better  reconciled 
to  it.  The  public  buildings  exceeded  my  expectation,  particularly 
"Westminster  Abbey,  and  St.  Paul's,  the  former  of  which  I  fre- 
quently visited,  and  always  with  pleasure  mixed  with  solemnity. 
Those  who  read  the  truest  and  best  descriptions  of  it,  will  yet  be 
unable  to  conceive  the  effect  which  the  seeing  and  being  in  it  pro- 


136  THE     LIFE     OF 

duce.  We  may  conceive  some  idea  of  its  several  parts  from  descrip- 
tion, but  the  joint  force  and  full  result  of  all,  can  only  he  felt  through 
the  medium  of  our  senses. 

"  My  expectations  were  not  so  much  exceeded  by  what  I  saw 
at  the  theatres,  the  senate,  or  the  bar.  I  did  not  find  one  actor  of 
eminence,*  (though  there  are  actresses  of  great  merit,)  nor  any  thing 
superior  to  the  strollers  I  have  seen  at  New-York.  But  the  scenery 
is  surprisingly  fine.  Neither  at  the  bar  nor  on  the  bench  did  I  dis- 
cover that  extreme  profundity  of  law  abilities,  which  I  have  so  of- 
ten heard  extolled,  and  w^hich  it  was  said  untied  in  an  instant  the 
Gordian  knot  of  every  difficulty.  I  found  arguments  arose  about 
questions  not  of  the  greatest  nicety ;  and  the  length  of  those  argu- 
ments and  the  hesitation  of  the  judges,  convinced  me  that  tlieyhs-d 
exaggerated  who  taught  me  to  expect  from  men  in  this  country 
something  superior  to  what  I  could  conceive  from  the  abilities  of 
my  own  countrymen. 

"  In  Parliament  I  w^as  still  more  surprised  and  disappointed  in 
the  expectations  I  had  entertained  of  the  dignity  of  the  two  houses, 
and  of  the  eloquence  of  several  of  the  members.  Great  abilities 
indeed  there  are,  but  the  effect  of  them  is  in  a  great  measure  lost 
in  a  vehemence  of  manner,  and  in  a  torrent  of  abuse  ill-suited  to  the 
dignity  of  a  senate.  There  is  very  little  of  the  suaviter  in  modo  in 
any  of  the  speakers — those  of  the  hrst  eminence,  as  JNIr.  Fox  and 
Mr.  Burke,  have  nothing  of  it.f 

"  23d  February,  I  went  into  the  inner  parts  of  Westminster 
Abbey, — vast  numbers  of  monuments  of  persons  in  every  age. 
Most  remarkable  moderns,  Admiral  Holmes,  the  insig^nia  of  his 
profession,  the  anchor,  cable,  &c.,  most  admirably  executed — beau- 
tiful white  marble.  General  Wolfe's — representation  of  his  death 
extremely  fine,  the  design  much  like  the  picture.  On  the  base,  the 
rocks,  place  of  landing,  the  soldiers  ascending  the  hill,  the  sailors 
drawing  the  cannon,  the  boats,  &c.,  all  in  bass  relief,  most  admira- 
ble.    Lord  Ligonier's,  very  fine. 

"  But  while  w^e  admire  the  beauty  of  the  marble  of  numbers, 

*  Garrick  had  left  the  stage  shortly  before  this  period.  He  died  a  few  days 
after  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  arrival  in  London. 

t  "  Mr.  Burke  was  not  the  cool,  dispassionate  speaker  I  expected,  but 
warm  and  theatrical."     P,  V.  S.  notes  of  Parliamentary  debates. 


PETER      VAN      S  C  11  A  A  C  K  .  137 

the  excellency  of  the  sculpture,  the  ingenuity  of  the  design,  the 
fancy  of  the  emblems  and  devices;  not  one  lilLs  the  mind  with 
those  truly  solemn  ideas,  or  makes  that  real  impression  as  that  of 
]\Irs.  Nightingale.  This  immediately  strikes  us  as  a  true  repre- 
sentation of  the  most  affecting  scene.  The  figure  strikes  us  of  a 
lady  just  expiring,  her  left  hand  hanging  down  lifeless,  her  right 
holding  her  husband  with  the  last  exertion — he,  in  the  utmost 
horror,  holding  her  with  one  hand,  and  with  the  other  endeavoring 
to  avert  the  stroke  wdiich  is  levelled  at  her  by  death,  just  issuing 
out  of  a  tomb  beneath,  the  doors  of  which,  of  the  color  of  iron 
and  apparently  such,  but  in  reality  of  black  marble,  being  open. 
It  is  impossible  for  any  representation  to  be  more  striking.  The 
attitudes,  the  expression  of  dying  beauty  in  the  lady,  and  of  dis- 
traction in  the  husband,  the  figure  of  death,  so  very  picturesque, 
with  a  variety  of  other  beauties,  combine  to  make  this  monument 
surpass  all  description.  Others  excite  our  admiration — this  raises 
the  tenderest  feelings ;  if  it  is  capable  of  affecting  the  coldest 
breast,  what  must  his  emotions  be  who  has  been  a  party  in  the  like 
solemn  scene  ! 

"  I8th  March,  I  set  out  from  London  for  Oxford,  where  I  ar- 
rived in  the  evening,  after  an  easy  day's  journey.  I  spent  several 
days  here  very  agreeably,  and  for  the  most  part  among  the  goums- 
men,  and  in  the  academic  way.  The  pleasure  which  it  was  evi- 
dent 1  took  in  this  society,  procured  me  great  attention  and  many 
civilities.  Indeed,  I  was  predisposed  to  admire  and  like  this  an- 
cient and  venerable  seat  of  learning,  which  has  given  to  the  world 
characters  of  such  distinguished  eminence  in  virtue,  as  well  as  in 
letters.  The  colleges  are  spacious  and  commodious,  and  besides 
the  public  libraries,  each  has  one  appropriated  to  itself;  the  streets 
are  spacious  and  clean,  the  gardens  are  very  pleasant,  and  the 
meadows  about  the  town  along  the  Chirwell,  and  especially  to  its 
confluence  with  the  Isis,  afford  the  most  agreeable  walks.  The 
means  of  study  are  therefore  aided  and  promoted  by  the  conveni- 
ences for  innocent  amusement  and  agreeable  relaxation. 

*'  I  visited  the  public  schools,  the  theatre,  (or  place  where  the 
public  exercises  are  performed,  which  is  built  upon  the  model  of 
that  at  Rome,  in  the  Augustan  times  of  that  republic,)  the  halls, 
the  libraries  public  and  private,  the  chapels,  &c.     1  saw  many 

18 


138  THE     LIFE     OF 

very  striking  paintings,  displaying  that  art  in  a  degree  of  excel- 
lence of  which  I  had  no  conception  before.  The  painted  glass  in 
some  of  the  chapels  (particularly  that  of  New-College)  is  striking 
beyond  expression.  The  sensations  it  excites,  are  such  as  will  re- 
move the  prejudices  conceived  against  the  use  of  this  art  in  places 
of  public  worship,  as  being  a  relic  of  popish  superstition.  Mine, 
which  had  arisen  from  the  abuses  of  it  which  I  had  heard  of,  van- 
ished when  I  reflected  on  the  impressions  which  these  paintings 
made  upon  my  mind.* 

"  20th  March,  I  went  to  Woodstock,  a  very  ancient  town,  cel- 
ebrated in  history.  Here  I  visited  Blenheim  House,  a  most  superb 
and  magnificent  pile  of  building.  Every  thing  here  is  upon  a  great 
and  extensive  plan,  and  the  paik,  the  gardens,  the  waters  and  the 
bridge  over  them,  perfectly  correspond  w^ith  the  building.  There 
are  here  many  very  fine  paintings  and  tapestry,  historical,  allego- 
rical, fanciful  and  portrait^  every  thing  in  and  about  this  house  has 
the  appearance  of  a  palace,  and  the  whole  is  suited  to  the  purpose 
(for  which  it  was  bestowed  by  the  nation)  of  a  public  monument 
of  gratitude,  and  as  a  rew^ard  for  eminent  services. 

''  The  follow^ing  couplet  is  said  to  have  been  made  upon  the 
bridge,  which  is  very  grand,  and  the  water,  which  at  that  time 
was  very  small,  though  now  very  spacious  : 

'  The  lofry  arch  his  high  ambition  shows, 
The  stream  an  emblem  of  his  bounty  flows.' 

"  The  paintings  at  Blenheim  House,  as  well  as  at  Oxford,  are 
certainly  very  fine ;  but  I  could  not  help  being  disgusted  at  the 
strange  mixture  of  sacred  and  profane,  serious  and  ridiculous,  in 
the  same  rooms.  This  may  be  taste,  but  the  pleasure  it  affords  is 
certainly  an  artificial  one,  and  can  arise  only  from  a  certain  habit 
in  opposition  to  the  genuine  feelings  of  the  heart.  Indeed,  many 
paintings,  as  well  as  much  of  the  sculpture  which  are  shown  as 
curious  performances,  are  calculated  to  vitiate  the  heart  for  the 
sake  of  pleasing  the  eye,  by  exciting  ideas  and  sensations  subver- 
sive of  that  modesty  which  is  a  barrier  to  virtue. 

*  "  And  storied  windows  richly  dight, 

Casting  a  dim  religious  light."' — Milton. 
"  The  dim  windows  shed  a  solemn  light." — Pope. 


PETER      VAN      SCIIAACK.  139 

"  Near  Oxford  is  Godstow  Nunnery,  ^vhere  it  is  said  fair  Rosa- 
mond was  buried  :  it  is  said  there  is  a  stone  with  this  inscription  : 

'  Hie  jacet  in  tuniba  Rosa  mundi,  non  Rosa  munda  ; 
Olrt,  nofi  rcdolct,  quce  redolcrc  solct.^ 

'^  The  rivalship  between  the  University  of  Oxford,  and  that  of 
Cambridge,  has  given  birth  to  two  beautiful  poems:  Isis,  by  Mr. 
Mason,  and  the  Triumph  of  Isis,  by  Mr.  Warton. 

"  The  following  inscription  is  placed  over  the  door  of  a  school, 
at  Thame,  in  Oxfordshire,  founded  by  a  person  or  persons  of  the 
name  of  Williams : 

'  Cuja  Dormcs  ?  Gulielmiada.     Cui  condita  ?  Phccbo. 
Cur  Phcsbo  ?  Doctis  prcBsidet  ingeniis. 
Quid  docet  ?    Utpucri  Latio  sermone  loquantur. 
Quo  prcEtio  .'   Gratis.     Lauseacuja?  Dei.^ 

"  23d  March,  returned  from  Bristol  to  Oxford,  passing  by  the 
elegant  and  extensive  park  of  Lord  Bathurst,  at  Cirencester,  near 
which  there  are  remains  of  Roman  encampments,  and  where  it  is 
said  the  tenth  legion  of  Caesar  has  been. 

"  April.  Took  a  ride  through  Bath  to  Ilungerford  Castle,  the 
ruins  of  a  very  ancient  fortification  of  that  kind,  which  belonged 
to  the  Hungerford  family.  Part  of  the  walls  and  of  the  chapel, 
both  '  ivy-mantled,'  still  remain.  We  saw  the  leaden  coffins  of 
one  of  the  family,  who  died  in  1613,  and  of  Sir  Thomas  Hunger- 
ford  and  his  lady,  who,  it  is  said,  died  five  hundred  years  ago. 

"  20th.  Went  to  London  in  a  post-chaise  with  Mr.  Cruger,  and 
in  the  evening  arrived  at  Sturton  Park,  the  seat  of  Mr.  Hoare,  a 
banker  in  London.  The  most  luxurious  description  would  fall 
short  of  the  beautiful  scenes  this  place  affords,  and  it  is  almost 
impossible  not  to  think  one's  self  upon  enchanted  ground,  amidst  the 
profusion  of  its  beauties.  Every  step  you  take  presents  some  new 
object,  some  variegated  prospect. 

"  As  you  go  round  a  very  fine  sheet  of  water,  w^hich  is  encircled 
by  woods,  lawns,  &c.,  interspersed  with  little  islands,  and  in  which 
you  see  numbers  of  wild  fowl,  swans,  &c.,  you  see,  in  succession, 
a  temple  of  Apollo,  a  temple  of  Flora,  a  Pantheon,  a  Chinese 
bridge,  a  Turkish  tent,  and  Neptune's  car  drawn  by  sea-horses,  all 


140  THE     LIFE     OF 

disposed  in  such  a  manner  as  to  present  themselves  in  the  greatest 
variety  of  views.  Below  this  sheet  of  water  there  is  another,  and 
between  the  two  is  the  road  that  leads  to  Mr.  Hoare's  farms,  on 
one  side  of  which  is  a  thick  shrubbery.  Into  the  lower  water,  there 
is  a  very  high  cascade,  which  is  occasionally  supplied  with  water 
out  of  the  higher  sheet.  The  walks  through  the  woods  are  very 
romantic;  one  of  them  conducts  you  to  a  little  *  straw-roof 'd' 
cottage,  and  afterwards  to  a  hermit's  cell,  which  is  strongly  char- 
acteristic of  the  purpose  it  was  made  for.  Its  furniture  is  an  old 
table,  a  chair,  a  Bible,  an  hour-glass,  and  a  small  lamp  suspended 
by  the  ceiling.  The  grotto  is  extremely  pleasing,  though  it  con- 
tains no  variety  of  shells  or  ornaments.  The  first  thing  you  see 
as  you  descend  into  it  from  the  Pantheon,  is  a  river-god  sitting 
upon  an  urn  through  which  runs  a  stream  of  water ;  but  as  you 
advance,  a  most  delightful  scene  is  exhibited.  In  a  fine  basin  of 
water  trickling  out  of  the  side  of  the  hill,  there  is  the  statue  of  a 
sea-nymph  asleep  on  a  couch  in  the  most  agreeable  attitude,  and 
on  a  marble  slab  fronting  her  are  these  lines  of  Mr.  Pope,  supposed 
to  be  spoken  by  her : 

'  Nymph  of  the  grot,  these  sacred  springs  I  keep, 
And  to  the  murmur  of  these  waters  sleep. 
Ah  !  spare  my  slumbers,  lightly  tread  the  cave, 
And  drink  in  silence,  or  in  silence  lave.' 

"  Nothing  can  produce  a  more  happy  effect  than  this  whole 
scene.  Mr.  Pope  wished  for  such  a  statue  to  complete  his  grotto. 
A  ride  of  about  five  miles,  which  is  so  contrived  as  to  give  the 
most  beautiful  prospects,  brings  you  to  a  small  Gothic  building 
supposed  to  be  a  nunnery,  which  contains  a  number  of  things,  as 
well  as  pictures,  descriptive  of  the  different  orders  of  those  devo- 
tees. At  length  you  arrive  at  a  high  tower,  called  Alfred's  tower, 
commanding  a  most  extensive  prospect  indeed  of  almost  all  the 
county  of  Somerset.     At  the  entrance  is  this  inscription : 

'  Alfred  the  Great, 

A.  D.  879,  on  this  summit, 

erected  his  standard 

against  Danish  invaders ; 

to  him  we  owe  the  origin  of  juries, 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  141 

the  eslablishmciu  of  a  militia, 

the  creation  of  a  naval  force  ; 

Alfred,  the  light  of  a  benighted  age, 

was  a  philosopher  and  a  Christian, 

the  father  of  his  people, 

the  founder  of  the  English  monarchy,  and  liberty.' 

"  At  the  entrance  of  Mr.  Hoare's  garden  is  a  very  beautiful 
cross,  which  formerly  stood  in  College  Green,  Bristol.  It  is  of 
considerable  height,  rising  pyraniidically  to  a  point,  and  around  it 
are  the  effigies  of  several  English  kings  and  queens.  It  was 
deemed  a  nuisance  in  Bristol,  from  whence  Mr.  H.  removed  it,  who 
thus  rescued  from  oblivion  this  pretty  piece  of  antiquity. 

"21st  April,  proceeded  to  Salisbury.  Salisbury  Cathedral  is  a 
large  and  curious  pile  of  building ;  the  spire,  which  is  amazingly 
high,  is  a  most  elegant  piece  of  work.* 

"  We  proceeded  to  Stone  Henge,  upon  Salisbury  plains,  and 
deliberately  viewed  those  amazing  masses  of  stone  which  have  so 
puzzled  the  curious,  and  about  the  origin  and  design  of  which  anti- 
quarians have  been  so  much  divided. 

"  We  passed  by  the  Duke  of  Queensbury's  seat,  where  the 
inoffensive  Gay  spent  so  much  of  his  time — Gay,  *  in  wit  a  man, 
simplicity  a  child.' 

"22d  April,  arrived  at  Windsor,  having  rode  through  its  for- 
ests, which  have  been  the  theme  of  one  of  the  most  eloquent  pro- 
ductions of  the  accomplished  Pope.  The  surrounding  country 
affords  a  most  delightful  prospect  from  the  castle,  the  terrace,  &c. 
The  paintings  here  are  extremely  rich  and  elegant,  but  too  numer- 
ous to  be  distinctly  inspected  and  properly  enjoyed  in  so  transient 
a  view  as  strangers  are  confined  to.  Eton,  with  its  ancient  school, 
is  contiguous  to,  and  joins  Windsor,  and  is  in  full  view  from  the 
castle.     Same  evening  we  arrived  in  London. 

"  25th  April,  I  went  upon  an  excursion  to  Hampton  Court,  and 
saw  the  palace  j  the  paintings  and  tapestry  here  appear  to  me 

*  "A  very  large,  elegant  cathedral,  highly  adorned  within,  having  as 
many  stone  and  marble  pillars  as  hours  in  the  year,  chapels  as  months,  doors 
as  weeks,  windows  as  days,  panes  of  glass  as  minutes4n  the  year  ;  a  beautiful 
chapter  house  and  cloister,  the  steeple  410  feet  high — 3G  years  building — 600 
years  old." — H.  Cruger's  Diary,  1775. 


142  THE      LIFE      OF 

equal  if  not  superior  to  any  I  had  seen.  The  representation  of 
Mars  lying  asleep  with  his  hand  in  Venus's  lap,  and  a  number  of 
Cupids  stealing  away  his  armor,  called  my  attention  to  the  late 
transactions  of  a  military  commander  in  America.*  Qui  capit,  ille 
facit. 

"  During  my  stay  in  London,  in  this  visit  as  well  as  the  for- 
mer, I  saw  almost  every  thing  which  is  usually  shown  to  strangers. 
The  Abbey  and  St.  Paul's  have  been  mentioned.  The  Tower, 
and  especially  the  wilderness  armory  in  it,  afforded  me  great  en- 
tertainment. St.  Stephen's,  Walbrook,  near  the  Mansion  House, 
is  a  most  beautiful  church.  The  Bridges,  the  Exchange,  the  Bank, 
the  Pantheon,  are  great  pieces  of  architecture.  The  British  and 
Sir  Aston  Lever's  Museums  are  well  worth  seeing.  Hampstead, 
Highgate,  Islington,  are  pleasant  towns.  Near  the  last  is  the  New 
River  Head,  from  whence,  and  from  a  higher  place  to  which  the 
water  is  raised  by  a  machine,  a  great  part  of  the  city  of  London  is 
supplied  with  water. 

"  Near  the  Magdalene  Hospital,  in  the  borough,  is  a  Ladarium, 
with  the  motto,  Lac  mihi  non  cestate  novum,  necjrigore,  desit. 

"  The  following  inscription  appears  upon  a  tomb  in  St.  Ann's, 
Soho,  London  : 

'  Near  this  place  is  interr'd 
Theodore,  King  of  Corsica, 
Who  died  in  this  parish,  Dec'r  11th,  1756, 
Immediately  after  leaving 
The  King's  Bench  Prison, 
By  the  Benefit  of  the  Act  of  Insolvency  ; 
In  consequence  of  which  he  registered  his 
Kingdom  of  Corsica  for  the  use  of 
his  Creditors. 
The  Grave,  Great  Teacher,  to  a  level  brings 
Heroes  and  beggars,  galley-slaves  and  Kings ; 
But  Theodore  this  moral  learnt  ere  dead, 
Fate  pour'd  this  lesson  on  his  living  head, 
Bestovv'd  a  kingdom,  butdeny'd  him  bread.' 

"  In  St.  Pancra's  church-yard,  situate  in  the  environs  of  London, 
is  the  celebrated  epitaph  on  Miss  Mary  Barsnet : 

*  Allusion  is  no  doubt  made  to  General  Howe. 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  14.'3 

'Go,  spotless  honor,  and  unsulIy'J  truth, 
Go,  sniiUng  innocence,  and  hlooniing  youth. 
Go,  female  sweetness,  johi'd  with  manly  sense, 
Go,  winning  wit,  that  never  gave  ofience. 
Go,  soft  humanity,  that  blest  the  poor. 
Go,  saint-ey'd  patience,  from  affliction's  door; 
Go,  modesty,  that  never  wore  a  frown. 
Go,  virtue,  and  receive  thy  Heav'nly  Crown ! 
Not  from  a  stranger  came  this  heart- felt  verse, 
The  friend  inscrib'd  thy  tomb  whose  tears  bedew'd  thy  hearse.' 

"  May.  I  accompanied  Mr.  Watts  to  Tiddington,  (Mr.  Frank's,) 
near  Twittenham,  and  in  the  neighborhood  of  Richmond,  Hampton, 
&c.  We  walked  to  Chelsea,  which  is  opposite  to  Battersea,  where 
Lord  Bolingbroke  lived.  From  thence  took  boat  to  Fulham,  there 
landed,  and  passing  by  Sir  William  Temple's  house  and  gardens, 
w^alked  through  Richmond  common  and  back  of  Lord  Harrington's, 
to  Mr.  Frank's.  This  seat,  very  near  the  Thames,  is  in  a  style  of 
taste  and  improvement  much  beyond  my  expectation.  The  house 
is  very  neat,  though  small,  and  the  gardens  well  disposed,  filled 
wdth  a  variety  of  shrubs,  and  sufficiently  extensive.  They  are 
much  frequented  by  nightingales,  which  I  heard  from  my  window 
and  bed  great  part  of  the  night.  The  house  commands  a  pretty 
view  of  the  Thames,  the  tide  of  which  comes  up  no  higher  than 
Tiddington ;  boats  are  continually  passing  to  and  fro,  and  large 
ones  loaded  are  drawn  against  the  tide  or  stream  by  horses  upon  the 
bank.  We  walked  to  Hampton,  through  Bushy  Park,  (Lord  North's,) 
where  there  is  a  beautiful  avenue  of  horse-chesnut  trees,  three  deep 
in  the  row  on  each  side,  and  then  in  full  bloom — a  very  pleasant 
sight.  The  walk  is  near  a  mile  lono;.  At  Twittenham  I  saw 
several  buffaloes,  and  numbers  of  swans  in  every  part  of  the  river. 

"  We  saw  Strawberry  Hill,  Mr.  Horace  Walpole's  house, 
which  is  built  in  the  Gothic  style,  and  in  imitation  of  an  ancient 
monastery.  Every  thing  around  it  is  in  this  taste,  and  the  sur- 
rounding trees  serve  to  cast  a  pleasing,  melancholy  gloom,  suited 
to  the  idea  of  a  sequestered  religious  house.  The  inside  (which, 
however,  we  did  not  see)  is  in  the  same  style. 

"  Mr.  Pope's  gardens  and  grotto*  fully  answered  the  idea  T  had 

*  "  At  the  entrance  to  the  grotto — 'Secretion  iter,  falleniis  semita  vitee.'  " 


144  THE     LIFE      OF 

conceived  from  his  animated,  picturesque  description  of  them.  I 
felt  a  pleasing  kind  of  solemnity  and  awe  at  being  in  that  very  spot 
^vhere  this  great  man  passed  so  many  of  his  agreeable  hours,  accom- 
panied by  so  many  distinguished  characters  who  adorned  the  age 
in  which  they  lived,  and  will  be  the  admiration  and  envy  of  suc- 
ceeding generations.  Mr.  Pope's  house  and  gardens  are  consider- 
ably enlarged  by  Sir  William  Stanhope,  his  immediate  successor, 
and  at  the  place  of  communication  of  the  ancient  gardens  and  the 
extension  of  them,  are  these  lines,  written  by  Lord  Nugent : 

'  The  humble  roof,  the  garden's  scanty  line, 
III  spoke  the  genius  of  the  bard  divine  j 
But  fancy  now  displays  a  fairer  scope, 
And  Stanhope's  plans  unfold  the  soul  of  Pope.' 

"  In  these  gardens  are  Mr.  Pope's  Mount  Parnassus,  and  upon  a 
small  rising  ground  is  a  plain  obelisk  to  the  memory  of  his  mother, 
with  this  inscription  round  it : 

'Jlh  Editha  .'  matrum  optima,  mulierum  amantissima,  vale  /' 

"  16th  June,  I  set  out  with  Mr.  Hayes  and  Mr.  Aldridge,  from 
Bristol  for  Stroud,  about  twenty-eight  miles  distant.  We  dined  at 
an  ancient  little  village,  the  parish  church  of  which  was  built  in 
1119.  We  walked  from  thence  to  the  town  of  Stroud,  about  seven 
miles,  upon  the  bank  of  the  Stroud-water  canal,  which  is  carried 
down  till  it  joins  a  river  which  empties  into  the  Severn.  This 
canal  is  about  forty  feet  wide,  and  six  deep.  Over  it  are  a  number 
of  bridges  built  upon  arches,  and  as  the  ground  rises  considerably, 
there  are  a  number  of  locks  for  letting  in  and  out  the  water  occa- 
sionally, in  order  to  preserve  its  level.  To  prevent  interfering 
with  a  stream  of  water  near  it,  this  stream  is  in  several  places  con- 
veyed across  the  canal  and  under  the  bed  of  it,  descending  on  the 
one  side  and  emerging  from  under  the  ground  on  the  other.  The 
expense  of  this  great  work,  which  is  intended  to  be  carried  on  so 
far  as  to  form  a  communication  with  the  Thames,  is  computed  at 
forty  thousand  pounds. 

"  The  17th,  we  took  a  ride  up  a  valley  formed  by  two  oppo- 
site hills  of  great  height,  to  Chafford  Bottom,  where  there  is  a 
spring  remarkable  for  its  petrifying  quality,  of  which  we  saw  a 


PETER     VAN      SCHAACK.  145 

number  of  specimens.  It  does  not  chanpje  tlie  quality  of  the  bodies  it 
passes  over,  but  forms  an  incrustation  about  them.  It  is  said,  that 
people  residinnj  near  it,  from  their  use  of  the  waters  are  more  f]^eneral- 
ly  alllicted  with  the  stone  and  gravel  than  in  other  places.  The  town 
of  Stroud,  as  well  as  the  intermediate  country  between  it  and  Chaf- 
ford,  is  inhabited  chiefly  by  clothiers,  and  manufacturers  of  cloth, 
which  is  generally  of  the  finer  sort.  The  country  is  hilly,  and  not 
unlike  some  parts  of  America,  and  the  people  are  of  a  plain  cast 
and  hospitable.  IMany  of  their  manners  reminded  me  of  New 
England. 

"  The  ISth,  we  went  to  the  city  of  Gloucester,  which  is  upon 
the  Severn.  This  city  has  nothing  remarkable  in  it  except  its 
cathedral,  which  is  a  spacious  pile  of  building,  said  to  have  been 
erected  in  the  Saxon  times,  of  which  species  of  architecture  it  is 
said  to  have  many  traces,  particularly  the  very  large  round  pillars 
in  the  aisle.  Here  is  some  painted  glass,  but  not  handsome,  and 
there  are  some  remains  of  Mosaic  work  on  the  stone  floor.  The 
monument  of  Edward  II.  is  here,  lately  inclosed  and  set  off  with 
iron  rails,  at  the  expense  of  Oriel  College,  Oxford,  which  he  found- 
ed. There  are  two  monuments  of  Bishop  Benson,  the  one  with  a 
simple  inscription  of  his  name,  &c.,  purporting  that  it  was  his  aim 
direction  that  it  should  contain  no  encomium  on  his  character  ;  the 
other,  at  a  different  end  of  the  church,  containing  a  full  delineation 
of  the  many  virtues  of  this  good  man  and  exemplary  Christian. 
The  Bishop  of  Gloucester — the  author  of  the  Divine  Legation,  sa 
much  celebrated  in  the  world  of  letters,  so  highly  extolled  and  so 
severely  criticised — was  buried  in  this  cathedral  but  a  few  days  be- 
fore we  were  there,  he  who  did  bestride  this  world  of  letters  like  a 
colossus.  He  had  the  misfortune  of  outliving  his  abilities  many 
years. 

"  19th.  We  returned  and  visited  Berkley  Castle  and  Church  ; 
both  ancient  buildings,  the  former  said  to  be  in  its  primitive  origi- 
nal state,  preserving  the  style  of  those  fortifications  so  common  in 
the  earlier  periods  of  British  history.  The  only  entrance  to  it  is 
through  a  narrow  gateway.  It  is  calculated  for  defence  against 
the  attacks  of  those  days,  and  has  accommodations  for  the  vassals 
and  dependents  of  its  lord.  This  was  the  prison  of  the  unfortunate 
Edward  IL,  who  was  murdered  in  a  small  gloomy  room  to  which 

19 


146  THE      LIFE      OF 

he  was  confined.     This  castle  is  said  to  have  belonged  to  the  Berk- 
ley family  near  seven  hundred  years. 

"  We  also  visited  Thornbury  Castle,  \vhich,  though  unfinished, 
exhibits  marks  of  elegance  and  taste.  It  was  begun  by  the  Duke 
of  Buckingham  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  against  whom  was  one 
article  of  impeachment,  the  building  of  this  castle,  from  its  exten- 
siveness  indicating  designs  which  alarmed  the  jealousy  of  his  sove- 
reign. We  drank  a  tankard  of  ale  with  the  Mayor  of  Thornbury, 
who  is  a  shoemaker,  and  keeps  a  public  house. 

*'  July  14th,  went  from  Bath  at  four  o'clock,  and  at  half  after 
eisfht  in  the  evenino;  arrived  in  London. 

"  29th.  Went  to  Woolwich  hy  water,  through  a  vast  number  of 
shipping.  IVIany  ships  of  war  were  on  the  stocks,  some  ready  or 
almost  ready  to  be  launched.  I  saw  the  convicts  come  ashore  from 
the  hulks.  Their  number  is  between  four  and  five  hundred.  They 
work  on  shore,  and  eat  and  lodge  on  board.  They  have  light 
irons  hoppling  their  legs,  and  sentries  and  guards  armed  have  the 
custody  of  them.  There  are  instances  of  their  attempts  to  escape, 
in  which  they  have  sometimes  succeeded.  They  continue  in  their 
vices  with  little  or  no  reformation,  and  they  look  forward  to  the 
end  of  their  punishment  only  to  have  an  opportunity  of  committing 
crimes  too  atrocious  for  even  this  kind  of  chastisement ;  this  is  the 
subject  of  their  frequent  conversation.  It  is  much  to  be  lamented 
that  so  humane  and  benevolent  an  attempt  to  mitigate  the  sangui- 
nary temper  of  the  British  laws  should  not  meet  its  deserved  suc- 
cess. 

"  July  28th,  attended  the  Rotation  Office  in  Bow-street,  at  which 
presides  Sir  John  Fielding.  He  is  a  venerable  figure,  of  great  age, 
and  his  hair  as  white  as  snow.  He  is  remarkable  for  the  most  un- 
common sagacity  in  detecting  villainy,  though  stone-blind.  His 
memory  is  extremely  tenacious,  and  his  questions  are  so  pointed, 
that  a  criminal  can  seldom  avoid  a  confession  of  his  guilt.  Many 
extraordinary  and  almost  incredible  instances  are  related  of  him 
upon  this  subject.  His  examinations  on  public  days,  which  are 
every  Wednesday,  exhibit  a  wonderful  assemblage  of  every  spe- 
cies of  villainy.  There  is  very  great  despatch  in  the  examinations, 
as  well  as  in  the  trials  of  criminals  ;  a  despatch  which  appeared  to 
me  rather  incompatible  with  the  solemn  and  deliberate  proceedings 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  147 

proper  for  courts  of  justice,  anil  which  reminded  me  of  the  line — 
*  Wretches  hang  that  jurymen  may  dine.' 

"  August  Gth,  I  took  one  of  my  accustomed  solitary  walks  in 
Westminster  Abbey,  *  when  perceiving:  a  gentleman  and  lady  going 
into  the  interior  parts  of  it,  I  followed  them  irom  a  prepossession  I 
took  in  their  favor,  occasioned  by  their  unatTected  appearance.  I 
found  them  extremely  familiar,  and  ready  to  enter  into  conver- 
sation upon  the  solemn  subjects  immediately  before  us,  and  we 
commenced  an  acquaintance  which  they  were  disposed,  as  I  most 
sincerelv  was,  to  cultivate.  Ilis  name  is  Tiddeman,  the  son  of  the 
Commodore  of  that  name,  who  was  the  second  in  command  in  the 
naval  department  at  the  Manilla,  where  he  was  drowned;  a  flag 
bein""  sent  out  to  him,  which  arrived  just  after  his  death.  He 
afterwards  called  upon  me,  and  invited  me  to  liis  lodgings  in  New 
Bond-street,  exprc-ssing  his  wish  to  see  me,  both  in  town  and  at 
his  house  in  the  countr)',  at  Ijiswich,  in  Sulfolk  County.  This  is 
the  second  instance  of  a  casual  acquaintance  I  have  thus  formed, 
which  is  likely  to  be  a  more  permanent  one  than  this  sort  o(  con- 
nection commonlv  i*^.  Mrs.  Tiddeman  is  in  an  ill  state  of  health, 
and  though  sIm'  preserves  an  agreeable  cheerfulness,  is  not  how- 
ever without  those  reflections  which  such  a  situation  naturally  in- 
spires;  hei  alfectionate  husband,  too,  anticipating  the  melancholy 
and  too  probable  event,  is  in  a  frame  of  mind  congenial  to  mine. 
He  looks  forward  to  a  scene  which,  alas!  I  have  so  lately  gone 
throu'rh,  anil  mutual  svmpaihy  will  i)robablv  increase  an  acquain- 
tance  thus  casually  commenced.  The  beautiful  and  striking  mon- 
ument of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nightingale  aflccted  us,  1  dare  say,  with 
nearly  the  same  sensations. 

"  15th  August,   1779,  the  anniversary  of  my  parting  with  my 

children  and  friends  at  Kinderhook  ! 

•  In  on«»  of  Mr.  Van  Schoack's  visits  to  the  Abbey,  some  time  after 
Arnold's  treason,  his  musings  were  jnterrupte<l  by  the  entrance  of  a  gentle- 
man, accompanied  by  a  lady.  It  was  General  Arnold,  and  the  lady  was 
doubtless  Mrs.  Arnold.  They  passed  to  the  cenotaph  of  Major  Andre, 
where  they  stood  and  conversed  together.  What  a  spectacle  !  The  traitor 
Arnold,  in  Westminster  Abbey,  at  the  tomb  of  Andre,  deliberately  perusing 
Iho  monumental  mscription  which  will  transmit  to  future  ages  the  tale  of 
his  own  infamy  !  The  scene,  with  the  associations  which  naturally  crowd- 
ed upon  the  mind,  was  calculated  to  excite  various  emotions  in  an  Amer- 
ican  bosom  ;  and  Mr.  Van  Schaack  turned  from  it  with  disgust. 


148  THE      LIFE     OF 

"3tl  Sept.,  I  was  shown  the  Tally  Office,  at  Westminster 
Hall,  which  is  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Rose,  deputy  chamber- 
lain, from  whom  I  have  received  many  civilities.  These  tallies 
are  billets,  or  faggots  of  wood,  of  which  there  are  large  heaps, 
and  are  vouchers  for  the  receipt  of  the  several  duties  levied  under 
different  names  and  brought  into  the  exchequer.  There  are  coun- 
terparts, which  answer  the  purpose  of  cheques.  There  are  par- 
ticular notches  signifying  different  sums,  thousands,  hundreds,  scores 
of  pounds,  shillings,  and  pence.  We  saw  some  of  those  tallies  of 
a  very  ancient  date,  called  Jews'  tallies ;  the  writing  on  them  was 
not  very  legible,  but  it  seemed  they  were  proofs  of  payments  made 
by  these  people. 

"  We  then  proceeded  to  the  Chapter  House,  in  which  are  de- 
posited vast  numbers  of  musty  records  and  rolls  of  King's  Bench, 
and  Common  Pleas  in  the  earlier  reigns,  pedes  Jinium,  records  of 
the  Star  Chamber,  &c.  But  what  was  most  remarkable,  in  an 
adjoining  chamber  we  were  shown  Dooms-day  Book,  written  in 
Latin,  very  neat,  and  though  750  years  old,  not  at  all  defaced  by 
time.  It  contains  a  survey  of  all  the  real  estates  in  England, 
marking  their  quantity  of  hydes,  the  number  of  villeins,  and  an 
account  of  the  personal  estates,  &c.  There  are  two  large  volumes 
upon  this  subject.  There  is  another  book  containing  extracts  from 
these  books,  with  some  curious  medallions  and  pictures  interspers- 
ed, and  some  of  them  representing  miracles  of  Edward  the  Con- 
fessor ;  one  particularly  represents  him  under  a  curious  figure  with 
a  staff  in  his  hand,  and  giving  a  ring  to  John  the  Evangelist. 

"  We  saw  the  articles  indented  between  Henry  VII.,  and  the 
Abbot,  &c.,  of  St.  Peter's,  Westminster,  in  consequence  of  the 
erecting  of  that  building,  with  a  number  of  seals  annexed.  Also 
Henry  VII.'s  will  (in  remarkably  plain  and  intelligible  English,  more 
so  than  it  was  in  the  time  of  Henry  VIIL),  with  his  signature  both 
at  the  top  and  bottom  of  it.  Among  other  curious  things,  it  directs 
ten  thousand  masses  to  be  sung,  and  directing  where,  after  his  de- 
cease, to  the  Trinity,  to  the  Apostles,  Patriarchs,  to  the  passion  of 
our  Saviour,  &c.  &c.,  marking  how  many  to  each,  and  two  thousand 
five  hundred  to  the  five  joyes  of  the  Virgin  Mary.  The  sum 
allotted  to  this  service  was  £2b0,  that  is  6d.  for  each  mass. 

"  We  were  also  shown  instructions  from  Henry  VII.  to  ambas- 


PETER      VAN     S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  149 

sailors  who  were  going  to  the  Court  of  Naples,  to  negotiate  a  treaty 
of  raarriasre  between  Prince  Arthur  and  Catherine  of  Arrairon, 
describing  in  what  manner  they  were  to  conduct  themselves,  and 
how  to  preserve  their  dignity ;  directing  them  to  take  a  particular 
view  of  the  lady's  person  and  features,  her  hair,  complexion,  eyes, 
lips,  nose,  and  to  attend  to  her  breath  whenever  it  could  be  decently 
done,  and  if  possible  before  breakfast,  observing  whether  she  had 
not  taken  spices,  &c.,  to  mark  her  stature,  and  the  height  of  the 
Leels  of  her  shoes. 

"We  also  saw  a  birth-day  f){le  upon  Henry  \  III.,  of  a  very 
curious  composition,  by  the  poct-laureat  of  that  day.  Also  a  re- 
turn made  by  commis.^ioners  appointed  by  that  prince  to  in(|uire 
into  the  irregularities  of  religious  houses,  enumerating  a  great 
variety  of  enormous  practices,  and  by  whom  committed.  This  was 
the  ground  for  the  sul>sjquent  dissolution  of  monasteries.  It  is  said, 
that  such  as  refused  to  confess  ihemsclves  guilty,  were  severely 
punished  for  their  conluraacy,  or  possibly  their  innocence. 

''  In  the  Tally  Oflice,  we  also  saw  some  old  pieces  of  iron  in 
the  shape  of  horse-shoes,  which,  together  with  a  jiarcel  of  hobnails, 
are  annually  delivered  into  court,  by  the  Corporation  ol  London, 
as  the  tenure  by  which  they  hold  certain  lands. 

"  Jth  Sept.,  dineil  at  Streetham  with  Mr.  Alexander,  and  took 
a  walk  to  Norwood  woods,  a  place  famous  for  gypsies. 

"  Gth.  Went  to  Bartholomew  Fair,  a  scene  of  every  species  of 
folly  anil  ridiculous  exhibition.  Bartholomew  Hospital  is  indeed 
a  noble  buililing.  It  was  founded  in  1105,  and  repaireil  and  iui- 
proved  in  the  reign  of  Henry  \111. 

*'  7th  .Sept.,  nttendeil  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tidtleman,  a-s  1  had  done 
several  other  times  at  Mr.  Cross's,  Henrietta-street,  a  famous  min- 
iature painter,  of  whom  it  is  remarkable,  that  though  a  great  artist 
he  is  both  deaf  and  dumb. 

'*  2!Hh  Sept.,  left  (josport,  on  my  way  to  Bath,  and  breakfasted 
at  Southampton,  a  very  pretty  town,  the  greatest  part  of  which  is 
surrounded  by  water.  An  arm  of  the  sea  comes  up  to  it.  Here 
are  bathing  places,  much  resorted  to  at  particular  seasons;  and 
from  it  there  is  a  view  of  the  famous  New  Forest,  where  William 
Ilufus  was  killetl  by  Wat  Tyler. 

"  13th  October,  I  went  from  Bristol  to   Stroud,  in  Gloucester- 


150  THE     LIFE     OF 

shire,  througli  Wotton  Underedge,  and  had  a  most  agreeable  ride. 
The  country  is  hilly,  but  for  the  most  part  well  cultivated :  the 
valleys  or  bottoms  are  extremely  rich,  and  from  the  eminences  af- 
ford the  most  pleasing  landscapes.  From  Simon's  Hill  Down  you 
have  a  distant  view  of  Bristol,  Somersetshire,  Wilts,  the  Malverin  hills 
in  Worcestershire,  the  Severn,  the  mountains  in  Wales,  (and  among 
others  the  Sugar  loaf-hill,)  and  of  almost  all  Gloucestershire. 

"  At  Stroud,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  it,  Bezly,  Nailsworth,  &c.,  I 
passed  five  days  in  a  most  agreeable  round  of  social  happiness, 
enjoying  more  than  at  any  time  since  my  arrival  in  Eno;land,  the 
sollicitce  jucunda  oblivia  vitce.  The  people  are  hospitable,  sociable 
and  well  bred,  particularly  the  women,  who  cultivate  their  minds 
Avith  great  assiduity  and  attention,  almost  as  great  as  in  most  other 
places  the  ladies  pay  to  dress.  JMusic  is  a  very  prevailing  object 
of  attention  there,  as  well  as,  I  believe,  in  every  part  of  England. 

"  [  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  J\Ir.  Ellis,  a  w^orthy  clergyman 
at  Stroud,  play  on  musical  glasses,  which  afford  a  very  pleasing 
sound  notwithstanding  the  simplicity  of  the  invention,  which  is 
said  to  have  been  Dr.  Franklin's.  He  showed  us  very  fine  prints 
of  the  paintings  of  the  Luxemburg  galleries,  by  Rubens.  There 
are  many  very  \vealthy  and  extensive  manufacturers  at  Stroud ; 
one  dyer  I  was  told  consumed  from  five  hundred  to  a  thousand  ton 
of  coal  every  year.  The  process  in  the  woollen  manufacture  is 
through  not  less  than  thirty-four  different  stages. 

"  17th  Oct.,  we  returned  through  Nailsworth,  where  we  dined 
with  Mr.  Webb,  who  is  remarkable  for  his  large  and  very  agreeable 
family,  having  not  less  than  five  fine  daughters : 

' Fades  non  omnibus  una 

Nee  diversa  tamen; — qualem  decet  esse  sororum.'' 

"  I  owe  the  pleasure  I  have  derived  from  these  agreeable  excur- 
sions to  my  worthy  friend,  JMr.  Richard  Aldridge,  of  Bjistol. 

''  19th  Oct.,  a  year  since  I  left  my  native  country  ! 

"  24th  Oct.,  w^ent  with  Mr.  A.  to  Bath,  where  he  introduced 
me  to  Mr.  Francis  Adams,  a  young  gentleman  of  great  merit  and 
considerable  fortune,  but  much  aiBicted  w^ith  a  gouty  humor  which 
flies  about  his  stomach  and  into  his  head.  This  gentleman  has 
travelled  in  France  and  Italy,  and  is  conversible  and  entertaining ; 
but  tliere  are  instances  of  his  benevolence,  particularly  one  towards 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  151 

an  old  frcntlcman  of  the  name  of  Styles,  ^vhlch  do  real  honor  to 
his  heart.  N.  B.  This  Mr.  Styles  has  left  in  manuscript  an  abridg- 
ment of  Domats.  Civil  Law,  and  a  Latin  grammar,  of  which  I  hope 
to  get  the  perusal. 

*'  28lh  Oct.,  dinetl  wiih  Dr.  Stonehouse,  who  entertained  me 
with  a  lon;]^  and  particular  account  of  Mr.  Ilervey,  of  whom  he 
was  a  neighbor  and  very  intimate  friend. 

"  '22d  Nov.,  arrived  in  I^ndon,  ami  went  to  the  city  election  for 
chamberlain,  where  I  saw  an  amazing  concourse  of  people  of  a 
very  decent  appearance.  I  was  very  advantageously  situated  in 
one  of  the  small  galleries  in  the  Common  ilall  ;  and  two  days 
afterwards  was  upon  the  hustings,  when  Mr.  Wilkes's  competitor, 
Mr.  James,  declined  any  larther  contest. 

"  16lh  Feb.,  set  out  from  Hath  for  London,  on  horseback,  in 
company  with  my  friend  Mr.  Francis  Adams,  who  went  in  his 
chariot,  in  which  there  was  room  for  me  in  case  of  fatigue  or  bad 
weathrr.  At  nfK)n  we  stoppetl  at  llie  Bear  Inn,  Lawrence,  Devizes, 
and  dined  and  staid  all  night  at  the  Castle  Marlborough,  a  most 
elegant  inn,  with  fine  gardens,  walks,  ami  watei-s  abounding  with 
fish.  This  was  formerly  one  of  the  country  seats  of  the  Duke  of 
Somersft.  In  the  garden  is  a  high  artificial  mount,  which  is 
ascended  by  walks  winding  around  it,  and  by  so  gentle  an  acclivity 
as  to  be  scarce  discernible.  We  were  ten  minutes  going  down 
it  at  a  moderate  pace,  from  the  summit  to  tlie  bottom. 

"  17th.  Wf  stopped  at  the  Castle,  Speen  Hill,  another  most  tle- 
<Tant  inn  near  Newburv.  Just  by  this  inn  is  the  spot  where  a 
famous  battle  was  lought  during  the  civil  wars,  in  which  Lord 
Falkland  fill.  The  view  from  this  hill,  and  indeed  almost  all  the 
way  Irom  Newbuty  to  Headinir,  on  the  soutli  side  of  the  road,  is 
extremely  rich  and  fine.  Tlie  fertile  valley  is  bounded  by  an  agreea- 
ble rising  ground,  running  parallel  with  it,  and  decorated  with 
elegant  seats. 

"  ISlh.  Proceeded  t-)  Windsor.  Went  up  to  the  top  of  the 
Tower,  which  atlords  a  most  magnificent  prospect  of  the  surround- 
ing country — not  less  than  twelve  different  counties  in  view.  In 
this  building  are  apartments  in  wiiich  Marshal  Belleisle,  and  other 
French  prisoners  of  distinction,  have  been  kept.  Here  is  also  an 
armory.     Wu  were  then  shown  the  Palace,  containing  a  great  va- 


152  THE     LIFE      OF 

riety  of  apartments  hung  with  tapestry,  and  very  excellent  paint- 
ings, by  the  most  eminent  hands.  After  walking  the  terrace,  we 
\vent  into  St.  George's  Chapel,  in  w^hich  there  is  some  fine  painted 
glass,  and  in  the  choir  are  the  banners  of  the  Knights  of  the  Garter, 
as  those  of  Knights  of  the  Bath  are  in  Henry  Vllth'S  chapel,  West- 
minster Abbey.  Knights  of  the  Garter  are  installed  at  Windsor. 
The  expense,  it  is  said,  is  ten  thousand  pounds. 

"  18th.  Left  Windsor,  went  through  the  Park  about  three 
miles,  and  then  passing  by  the  Duke's  Lodge  fell  into  the  Bagshot 
road,  through  Egham  and  Stains,  which  is  upon  the  Thames,  and 
struck  across  to  Hampton  Court,  through  Sunbury  Common.  Hav- 
ing a  most  delightful  day,  we  saw  the  paintings  at  the  Palace  to 
great  advantage.  In  general  I  think  they  have  the  advantage  of 
those  at  Windsor,  though  there  are  excellences  in  particulars  at 
either  place,  in  which  it  is  impossible  for  any  but  an  adept  to 
give  a  preference.  The  gardens,  the  large  gravel  walks,  the  park, 
the  vast  sheets  of  water,  exhibit  great  and  magnificent  as  well  as 
pleasing  scenes.  We  then  set  out  for  London  through  Bushy 
Park,  along  Mr.  Walpole's  Abbey-like  house,  at  Strawberry-hill, 
through  Twittenhara,  and  came  into  the  London  road  near  the  ele- 
gant gateway  of  Sion  House. 

"  7th  March,  I  went  to  Mr.  Dane's  private  exhibition  in  Great 
Hart-street,  Covent  Garden,  where  I  saw  a  number  of  drawings 
of  different  parts  of  Italy,  and  of  curiosities  in  that  country ;  but 
the  principal  thing  was  a  representation  of  Mount  Vesuvius,  in  an 
eruption  of  that  volcano,  on  gauze.  The  room  was  darkened  and 
a  number  of  wax  candles  lit  up.  It  represented  the  mountain  in 
a  flame,  shining  over  the  adjacent  country,  with  a  distant  view  of 
Naples,  the  sea,  &c.,  and  a  roaring  noise  as  of  thunder  was 
heard. 

"  10th  April,  I  was  at  the  Cock])it,  White  Hall,  where  the 
Lords  Commissioners  were  met  to  determine  upon  appeals  from 
the  courts  of  Admiralty.  In  the  evening,  I  attended  a  debate  in 
the  Westminster  Forum,  upon  the  question  whether  the  immediate 
acknowledgment  of  American  independence  upon  the  terms  of  a 
general  peace,  W' ould  not  be  preferable  to  a  continuance  of  the  war 
against  the  allied  powers — determined  in  the  negative. 

"  2d  May.   Began  attendance  on  Mr.  Birch,  surgeon,  No.  12 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  153 

Essex-street,  Strand,  for  tlie  benefit  of  my  eye,  he  offering  to  ad- 
minister electrical  operations  upon  it. 

"  IGth  June,  [1780,]  I  set  out  in  company  with  S.  M.  Dyck- 
man  for  Cambridge,  where  we  arrived  at  five  o'clock  in  the  eve- 
ing ;  attended  prayers  at  Trinity  College  Chapel,  and  supped  on 
cold  mutton  and  gooseberry  fool,  at  the  Common  Hall.  Next  day 
we  viewed  the  Library  of  that  college,  (a  very  mai^jnificent  one,) 
the  public  University  Library,  the  Senate  House,  and  several  of  the 
Chapels.  The  walks  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  are  spa- 
cious and  pleasant ;  though  the  ground  about  Cambridge  is  too 
flat  to  admit  of  any  comprehensive  views  of  the  town  or  university. 

"  In  Trinity  Chapel  is  a  very  fine  statue  of  Sir  Isaac  Newton, 
and  in  the  library  are  several  pieces  of  antiquity,  particularly  the 
Sandwich  marble  brought  over  by  Lord  Sandwich,  and  purchased 
at  a  high  price.  The  inscription  is  in  Greek  characters,  the  words 
regularly  arranged  under  one  another,  to  prevent  interpolations. 
It  purports  to  be  an  account  of  a  sacrifice  in  honor  of  Apollo,  in  the 
island  of  Delphos,  four  hundred  years  before  Christ,  and  contains  a 
list  of  the  contributions  for  defraying  the  expense  of  it.  In  the  uni- 
versity library,  are  several  ancient  oriental  manuscripts,  and  an  im- 
pression of  the  first  printing,  and  of  several  subsequent  ones,  show- 
ing the  rapid  progress,  in  a  short  time,  of  that  art.  In  Trinity  li- 
brary, are  Milton's  juvenile  poems  in  his  own  hand-writing,  some 
of  them  without  a  single  obliteration,  and  also  a  sketch  of  the  Para- 
dise Lost  in  its  original  form,  which  was  dramatic. 

"  But  the  most  pleasing  object  at  Cambridge  is  King's  College 
Chapel,  which  is  a  spacious  building,  and  a  perfect  model  of  Gothic 
architecture.  The  painted  glass  is  exquisitely  fine,  and  represents 
many  striking  parts  of  sacred  history  out  of  the  Old  and  New  Tes- 
tament, showing  on  one  side  the  types,  and  on  the  other  the  ac- 
complishment of  them.  See  the  particular  description  of  this  ex- 
quisite piece  of  workmanship.*     The  trophies  of  victory  gained  at 

*  "  The  chapel  in  this  college  is  one  of  the  rarest  fabrics  in  Christendom, 
wherein  the  stone-work,  wood-work,  and  glass-work  contend  which  most  de- 
serve admiration.  Yet  the  first  generally  carrieth  away  the  credit,  (as  being  a 
stone  henge  indeed,)  so  geometrically  contrived,  that  voluminous  stones  mutu- 
ally support  themselves  in  the  arched  roof,  as  if  art  had  made  them  to  forget 
nature,  and  weaned  them  from  their  fondness  to  descend  to  their  centre.  And 
yet  though  there  be  so  much  of  Minerva,  there  is  nothing  of  Arachne  in  this 

20 


154  THE      LIFE     OF 

Manilla  are  put  up  here  by  Sir  W.  Draper,  who  was  of  this  col- 
lege. 

"  18th.  We  dined  at  Huntington,  the  place  of  Oliver  Crom- 
well's birth,  (of  whom  the  people  seem  to  inherit  his  spirit,  and 
are  proud  of  his  birth.)  We  saw  the  house  w^here  he  was  born. 
I  could  not  help  observing  in  Huntingtonshire  and  Bedfordshire 
stronsf  traces  of  the  New  England  accent. 

"  24th  June,  I  set  out  on  horseback  with  Francis  Adams,  Esq., 
for  Oxford,  and  passed  through  Uxbridge  and  Wickham,  and 
lodged  at  West  Wickham,  where  we  visited  the  elegant  gardens 
of  Lord  Le  Dispenser. 

"  26th.  Arrived  at  Oxford,  and  dined  at  the  Angel  Inn.  In 
the  afternoon  took  a  walk  in  Magdalen  Walks  with  Dr.  Nicholson, 
with  whom  we  spent  the  evening  in  the  common  room,  having 
attended  prayers  at  the  beautiful  chapel  of  New  College. 

"  27th.  Attended  the  university  sermon,  and  then,  attended  by 
Mr.  Davie,  of  Trinity,  and  Mr.  Murthwaite,  of  Queen's  College, 
we  went  into  several  different  chapels,  halls,  common  rooms  and 
gardens.     I  visited  RatclifF  and  Ashmolaean  Libraries,  the  Theatre, 

building  ;  I  mean  not  a  spider  appearing,  or  cobweb  to  be  seen  on  the 
(Irish  wood  or  cedar)  beams  thereof.  No  wonder,  then,  if  this  chapel,  so 
rare  a  structure,  was  the  work  of  three  succeeding  kings  j  Henry  the  Sixth, 
who  founded  it  ;  the  Seventh,  who  farthered  ;  the  Eighth,  who  finished  it. 

"  It  is  315  feet  long,  84  wide,  and  90  feet  high  to  the  battlements.  The 
second  and  inner  roof  of  stone  [begun  in  1513J  is  in  the  form  of  a  grand 
Gothic  arch,  without  so  much  as  the  appearance  of  a  pillar  to  uphold  it  ;  the 
buttresses  and  towers  of  the  chapel  being  its  only  support.  In  the  middle  of 
this  roof,  and  in  the  flattest  part  of  it,  are  fixed  perpendicularly,  at  equal 
distances  from  one  another,  stones,  (adorned  with  roses  and  portcullises,) 
every  one  of  which  is  no  less  than  a  ton  weiglit.  Each  of  these  is  upwards 
of  a  yard  in  thickness,  and  projects  beyond  the  other  parts  of  the  carved 
work.  Bat  what  may  justly  claim  an  equal  degree  of  wonder  is,  that  those 
large  stones  in  the  centre  of  each  severy,  which  may  be  considered  as  the 
key-stones  of  the  vault,  might  at  any  time  be  safely  taken  out  without  en- 
dangering the  vault  itself.  Hence  it  appears,  that  this  roof  is  so  geometri- 
cally contrived,  that  it  would  stand  firm  without  either  the  walls  or  the  key- 
stones. 

"There  is  a  tradition  that  Sir  Christopher  Wren  went  once  a  year  to 
survey  the  roof  of  the  chapel  of  King's  College,  and  said,  that  if  any  man 
would  show  him  where  to  place  the  first  stone  he  would  engage  to  build  such 
another." — Jin  account  of  King^s  College  Chapel^  in  Cambridge^  by  Henry 
Maiden,  Chapel  Clerk.     3d  Ed.,  1779. 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  155 

the  Arundel  Marbles,  the  Picture  Gallery,  the  Convocation  Room, 
the  Divinity  School.  Also  Christ  Church  Picture-room,  Library  and 
Hall.  AUer  dining  with  the  Rev.  ^Ir.  Davie,  (Fellow  and  Purser 
ot  Trinity,)  I  went  in  the  evening  down  the  river  with  some  gen- 
tlemen of   the  University,  in   a  boat,  as   far  as    ,  where  I 

was  introduced  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Aocl.  Here  is  u  very  ancient 
church,  remarked  for  a  Saxon  arch. 

"  27th.  Mr.  Adams  and  I  rode  out  to  the  pleasant  seat  of  Lord 
Harcourt,  at  Nuneham. 

"  28th.  Walked  alx)ut  the  town,  and  occasionally  looked  into 
dillerent  places  we  had  seen  before ;  particularly  New  College 
Chapel,  in  which  there  is  an  ex'cellent  organ,  whiih,  combining 
with  the  chantincj  of  the  choristers,  and  the  religious  characters  de- 
lineated on  the  windows,  and  the  solemn  gloom  which  the  light 
in  the  chapel  derives  from  the  paintings,  produces  a  most  solemn 
and  pleasing  etfect.  There  are  in  the  great  window  of  the  ante- 
chapel  three  fi*^ures,  representing  Hope,  Faith,  and  Cliarity,  lately 
put  uj) ;  they  were  desif,qied  by  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds,  and  painted 
by  Jarvis,  and  are  iK-autiful  beyond  expression. 

'*  All  Souls'  lil)rarv  is  a  most  magnificent  one;  in  it  is  a  statue 
of  Colonel  C.  (  .!iiii_;  n,  one  of  the  benefactors.  He  was  cap- 
tain-general and  governor  of  f^nrljmlors. 

(^       :  rariiut  €</  1  "  '  Mim'rV(e 

Oinuihus  onuiium,  Marti  lihtxluyna*  fwenti 

Ci  ■  et  tanto  se  jactat  Alumno.'' — Adilison. 

''  2'Jih.  We  made  a  parly  to  IMenheim  House,  rode  about  the 
p;iik,  and  then  saw  the  house.  Aftrr  dinner,  we  look  a  walk 
lhrou<'h  the  gardens.       \     >ut  two  miles  beyond  the  park  walls,  at 

a  place  calleil  Stone ,  we  were  shown  some  Roman  pavement 

or  tesselated  mosaic  work,  the  iloor  of  some  ancient  habitation,  and 
near  it  a  Roman  bath,  which  was  (ri>covered  in  1711,  when  a 
house  was  built  over  it  which  was  destroyed  soon  after,  and  lately 
the  rubbish  again  cleared  away.  It  is  in  perfect  preservation,  and 
the  colors,  which  aie  unchanged,  are  various.  I  took  a  few  of  the 
stones  with  me.     Returned  in  the  evening  to  Oxford. 

"3()tli  June,  dined  in  Trinity  College,  and  in  the  evemng  set 

*   -\ncicni  name  for  Oxford. 


156  THE     LIFE     OF 

out  for  Buckingham,  (through  Beicester  and  a  cross  country  road,) 
where  we  lodged  at  the  White  Hart. 

"  ISth  July,  went  to  Stowe  Gardens,  which  are  truly  paradisai- 
cal. Nothing  can  exceed  them  in  beauty  and  elegance.  Many 
alterations  have  been  made,  of  which  I  have  taken  notice  in  the 
printed  description  of  them,  which  in  the  main  is  just.  Mr.  Pope's 
bust  remained  without  an  inscription  in  the  time  of  his  noble  friend 
Lord  Cobham,  since  which  the  following  has  been  put  under  it  on 
a  piece  of  white  marble. 

'Alexander  Pope, 

who,  uniting  the  correctness  of  judgment  with  the  fire  of  genius, 

by  the  .Melody  and  Power  of  his  Numbers, 

gave  Sweetness  to  Sense,  and  Grace  to  Philosophy. 

He  employed  the  pointed  brilliancy  of  Wit  to  chastise  the  Vices,  and 

the  eloquence  of  Poetry  to  exalt  the  Virtues  of  human  nature, 

and,  being  without  a  Rival  in  his  own  age, 

imitated  and  translated,  with  a  spirit  equal  to  the  Originals, 

the  best  poets  of  Antiquity.' 

"  This  bust  is  at  one  end  of  the  temple  of  British  worthies,  the 
latter  fronting  the  Campi  Elysii.  At  one  end  of  the  entrance  into 
the  ladies'  temple  is  a  statue  of  the  late  Lady  Temple,  with  the 
w^ords  0  Dea  certe !  over  it ;  and  on  the  other  side  is  a  vacant 
niche,  intended  to  be  filled  with  the  statue  of  Lady  Viscountess 
Cobham,  and  over  it  Fortuna  domus. 

"  On  the  fluted  column  to  the  memory  of  Lord  Cobham,  and 
around  it,  are  these  words : 

^  L.  Luctdli — Summi  Viri  ;  Virtdtem.     Quis.  At. 
Quam.  Multi.  Villarum.  Magnijicentia.  hntatV 

"  In  the  evening  we  left  Buckingham  and  arrived  at  Aylesbury, 
from  whence,  through  a  most  beautiful,  rich  and  plentiful  country, 
we  proceeded,  2d  July,  through  Tring  to  Berkhamstead,  in  Hert- 
fordshire, and  striking  across  the  country,  arrived  and  dined  at  St. 
Albans,  a  pretty  town  on  a  hill,  surrounded  with  a  very  rich 
country. 

"  The  abbey  (for  such  it  once  was,  though  now  a  parish 
church)  is  very  spacious,  and  is  said  to  be  built  on  the  very  spot 
where  St.  Alban,  the  first  martyr  in   England,  suffered.     Many 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  157 

fabulous  stories  are  related  of  him.  In  one  place  he  is  represented 
decapitated,  and  near  him  the  executioner,  in  a  stooping  posture, 
holdiui^  his  hands  under  his  eyes  as  if  to  catch  them;  for 'tis  storied 
that  he  wept  till  his  eyes  dropped  out  !  There  is  one  place  in  the 
nave,  and  about  the  mitkllc  between  the  front  door  and  the  choir, 
where  there  is  a  very  remarkable  echo  reverberating  at  least  a 
dozen  times,  and  merely  chopping  or  throwing  down  a  handker- 
chief produces  a  very  audible  sound. 

"  Near  St.  Alban's  are  remains  of  the  walls  of  the  ancient 
Roman  town  of  Verulam. 

"  25th  August,  I  set  out  with  Mr.  Cruger  for  Bristol,  where  I 
arrived  on  the  26th. 

"  27th,  2Sth  and  29th.  Dined  at  the  Merchants'  Hall,  at  the  anni- 
versary feasts  of  the  Mayor  (Mr.  Bull)  and  Sheriffs  Brice  and  Har- 
ford. The  company  was  very  large,  consisting  of  the  court,  this  being 
assize  time,  and  of  the  military  and  pay  officers,  and  of  the  princi- 
pal gentlemen  of  the  town  and  strangers.  N.  B.  The  Duke  of 
Beaufort  was  there,  and  a  son  of  Lord  Abergaveny,  and  a  foreign 
prince,  Mr.  Burke,  &c.  &c. 

"  I  attended  the  assizes  at  the  Guild  Hall  every  day,  but  there 
"were  no  causes  of  great  consequence,  or  any  difficult  points  of  law 
discussed.  The  judge  was  Nares,  and  the  counsel  sergeants  Davy 
and  Grous,  Counsellor  Morris  and  some  younger  ones,  among 
whom  was  a  son  of  the  Earl  of  Chatham.  Several  observations 
occurred  to  me  in  the  course  of  the  different  trials,  upon  the  pro- 
ceedings, w'hich  I  shall  find  a  place  for  elsewhere. 

"  23d  February,  I  went  to  the  Royal  Society  at  Somerset  House 
[London],  where,  among  other  things,  was  read  a  letter  from  Dr. 
Blayne,  on  board  the  Sandwich,  giving  a  very  particular  account 
of  the  late  dreadful  hurricanes  at  Barbadoes  and  St.  Lucia,  in 
October  last,  (between  3  and  11  P.  M.,)  and,  among  many  extra- 
ordinary circumstances,  mentioning  the  good  effects  which  followed 
this  dreadful  agitation  of  nature  upon  the  health  of  the  inhabitants, 
and  particularly  the  cure  of  several  persons  laboring  under  con- 
sumptive complaints,  and  even  pleurisies,  though  the  patients 
w^ere  exposed  to  the  open  air  in  the  violence  of  the  storm. 

"  17th  March,  1  went  to  Wanstead,  where  I  remained  till  the 
19th. 


158  THE     LIFE     OF 

"  24th  March,  I  paid  a  visit  to  Mrs.  and  Miss  B.,  whom  I  found  in 
great  distress,  owing  to  a  paragraph  in  the  Bath  papers  purporting 
that  their  kinsman,  Captain  A.,  had  made  away  with  himself. 
But  on  the  19th,  I  found  they  had  received  a  letter  from  him, 
declaring  that  such  had  been  his  intention,  and  that  in  pursuance 
of  it  he  had  gone  to  the  sea-side  near  to  Bristol ;  but  when  he  w' as 
preparing  to  execute  his  fatal  purpose,  the  apparition  of  his  de- 
ceased father  prevented  him  from  it.  He  adds,  that  doubtful 
whether  it  was  not  an  illusion  of  his  own  brain,  he  made  a  second 
effort,  when  the  apparition  again  showed  itself. 

"  N.  B.  It  is  said  the  last  Lord  Littleton  had  predicted  his  death 
at  the  precise  time  it  happened,  in  consequence  of  an  apparition. 
How  far  to  believe  or  disbelieve  the  doctrine  of  apparitions  in 
general,  is  a  curious  subject ;  as  to  particular  cases,  each  must  de- 
pend on  its  own  circumstances,  supposing  the  thing  really  to  hap- 
pen sometimes.     Vide  Spectator,  Vol.  III. 

"  14th  April,  I  went  to  Wanstead  and  saw  Wanstead  House, 
Lord  Tylney's.  Next  day  I  walked  over  Lea  Bridge  to  Hackney, 
and  saw  Mr.  Nauden's  Boarding-school. 

"  16th,  I  went  through  Woodford  to  the  Bald-face  Stag  Inn, 
where  there  was  a  famous  anniversary  Stag-Hunt,  it  being  Easter- 
Monday. 

"  18th  July,  I  was  at  the  House  of  Peers  when  the  King  made 
his  prorogation  speech.  The  Speaker  presented  a  money  bill  wnth 
a  short  address  to  the  throne,  and  several  other  bills  were  passed 
with  the  assent,  as  usual,  in  the  old  Norman  French. 

"  20th  July,  I  accompanied  Gov.  Hamilton  and  Major  Hay  to 
Mr.  West's  in  Newman-street,  w^here  we  saw  a  great  variety  of 
exquisite  paintings,  and  sketches  of  that  eminent  artist. 

"  1st  Aug.,  I  went  with  the  above  gentlemen  to  the  Tower, 
and  had  a  deliberate  view  of  the  curiosities,*  and  dined  at  Bilhno-s- 
gate ;  after  which  we  saw  the  annual  rowing  match  from  London 
Bridge. 

*  But  a  fragment  remains  of  the  notes  taken  by  Mr.  V.  S.  of  the  curiosi- 
ties in  the  Tower,  and  these  were  not  systematized.  He  notices  as  "  the 
most  remarkable  thing  there,  the  wilderness  armory,  between  three  and  four 
hundred  feet  long — one  hundred  thousand  stand  of  arms  disposed  and  ar- 
ranged in  beautiful  and  various  order. — There  are  four  large  columns  in  the 
middle,  with  several  hundred  pair  of  pistols  and  swords  about  them.     Along 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  159 

"  r2th  Nov.  Reading  Johnson's  Lives  of  the  Poets,  I  find  an 
anecdote  in  that  of  Lord  Roscommon  which  recalls  my  mind  to  the 
circumstance  mentioned  in  this  little  journal,  24th  March  last." 

The  observations  which  follow,  were  probably  committed  to 
paper  in  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  of  1779. 

"  A  man  who  expects  to  derive  any  advantage  from  his  travels 
will  be  more  anxious  to  select  certain  objects  from  which  he  may 
improve  his  mind,  than  to  accumulate  a  great  number,  which  may 
perplex  it ;  and  as  to  those  objects  which  he  beholds  for  amuse- 
ment or  pleasure,  he  should,  while  their  impressions  are  recent,  as- 
certain thf)se  particulars  with  which  he  was  most  pleased,  as  they 
will  in  a  future  day  assi>t  his  recollection,  and  renew  his  entertain- 
ment, even  at  a  distance  from  them. 

"  A  person  who  has  spent  the  former  part  of  his  life  in  a  coun- 
try yet  in  a  state  of  infancy,  and  whose  first  settlement  is  little  more 
than  a  century  distant  from  the  present  period,  w  ill  be  sensibly  af- 
fected in  the  change  to  a  country  whose  first  settlement  is  even 
beyond  the  era  of  its  history,  and  enveloped  in  fable,  and  which 
has  been  distinguished  as  the  theatre  of  the  most  important  scenes 
that  are  exhibited  in  the  annals  of  mankind.  A  species  of  enthusi- 
asm is  excited,  by  the  view  of  those  places  whi(  h  we  find  recorded 
for  such  important  events.  We  can  scarce  turn  to  any  ])lace, 
which  is  not  distinguished  by  some  memorable  transaction  ot  the 
warrior,  the  statesman,  and  the  scholar.  Human  nature  has  here 
displayed  all  its  virtues  and  all  its  enormities,  all  its  dignity  and  all  its 
baseness.  When  we  recollect  all  the  changes  this  j)eople  have 
gone  through,  the  different  and  even  opposite  systems  they  have  at 
various   times   adopted,  and  contended   and    bled  for,   we  should 

the  walN  aif  »  n  i  .u'  !•••'■-  formed  by  arms  and  swords.     -Mcdusa'd  head,  &c. 
&c.      Sword  of  llie  Fr    :    ..  ..r. 

"Ordnance  armory — large  sixty  pounder  of  Henry  VIII.  with   his   name 
on  it,  of  copper.     Lirj;'-  piece  used    at  Edinburgh  Castle  in  1740-6. 

"Horse  armory — Kings  on  horseback^oats  of  mail  as  used  in  ancient 
times,  the  very  suits  of  armor  used  by  particular  persons  ;  order  of  fighting, 
three  feel  between  each  horseman. 

"  Spanish  armory— Spoils  of  the  Armada— Image  put  on  board  by  the 
Pope. 

"  Sword  with  wh;ch  .^nn  Bolcyn  was  beheaded. 


160  THE     LIFE     OF 

hardly  think  it  possible,  that  their  history  should  be  the  history  of 
the  same  people. 

"The  monuments  of  antiquity  which  we  here  discover,  wheth- 
er raised  by  pride,  by  zeal  or  superstition,  or  by  more  exalted 
motives,  are  a  great  source  of  reflection  to  a  contemplative  mind. 
In  a  relio-ious  view,  while  we  reflect  on  the  various  and  contra- 
dictory systems  to  which  the  most  venerable  of  these  have  at  dif- 
ferent eras  been  made  subservient,  we  see  how  prone  to  error  is  the 
human  mind,  when  left  to  judge  for  itself,  even  with  the  best  lights. 
But  those  altars  which  were  in  former  days  devoted  to  an  unknown 
God,  it  is  to  be  hoped  will  now  be  employed  only  in  the  service 
of  him  in  whom  we  live  and  move  and  have  our  being,  and  in  the 
benevolent  spirit  of  that  religion  which  breathes  glory  to  God  in 
the  highest,  and  on  earth  peace,  good  will  towards  men. 

"That  ambition,  which,  where  it  has  no  real  object,  will  create 
itself  an  imaginary  and  often  a  fantastic  one,  should  have  fixed  its 
eye  on  this  country,  cannot  be  surprising.  In  the  beauties  and 
advantages  of  nature,  whether  for  utility  or  pleasure,  whether  for 
its  internal  excellences,  or  the  means  it  enjoys  of  obtaining  foreign 
accessions,  none  can  possibly  exceed  it.  Its  insular  situation,  the 
fertihty  of  its  soil,  the  number  and  extent  of  its  rivers,  and  the  tempe- 
rature of  its  climate,  all  combine  to  prove  this.  The  face  of  the 
country  is  most  beautifully  diversified,  and  if  we  suppose  those  na- 
tural advantages  to  be  improved  by  every  embellishment  which 
the  most  refined  taste  and  fancy  can  bestow  upon  it,  we  shall  do 
but  mere  justice  to  the  scenes  it  displays  at  this  period.  There  is 
every  variety  that  can  be  imagined,  of  hill  and  dale,  of  woods  and 
plains,  meadows  and  gardens,  and  every  species  of  culture  and  hus- 
bandry. A  venerable  Gothic  structure,  an  elegant  country  seat, 
a  delightful  park,  an  ancient  village  and  a  well  disposed  town  or 
city,  everywhere  at  convenient  distances,  with  sometimes  an  ancient 
castle,  call  up  our  attention.  Every  now  and  then  we  see  a  place 
which  has  been  rendered  memorable  by  some  military  struggle  of 
ambition,  where  the  blood  of  the  innocent  has  been  shed  and  ofl^er- 
ed  up  at  the  shrine  of  vainglory ;  vestiges  of  Roman  encampments 
and  fortifications  still  remain,  to  show  us  how  transitory  is  the 
glory  and  the  power  of  the  greatest  nations! 

"  In  a  country  abounding  with  such  a  profusion  of  objects,  it 


PETER      VAN     S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  IG 1 

^vill  be  necessary  to  set  bounds  to  curiosity.  A  few  objects  in 
every  kind,  may  answer  the  purpose  of  improvement.  The  city  of 
London  itself  is  in  some  measure  an  epitome  of  the  world.  Its  an- 
tiquity and  astonishing  growth,  its  vast  extent  and  populousness, 
the  variety  of  people  it  contains,  in  every  ditferent  situation  from 
the  monarch  to  the  beggar,  and  from  every  nation  on  the  globe ; 
its  amazing  buildings,  ancient  and  venerable,  modern  and  magni- 
ficent, its  wealth,  its  trade  and  intercourse  with  every  nation  in  the 
■world,  all  conspire  to  fdl  the  mind  wiih  admiration. 

"In  Westminster  Abbey  we  have  a  specimen  of  perhaps  the 
greatest  excellence  of  Gothic  architecture,  nor  can  any  thing  ex- 
ternal be  better  calculated  to  inspire  the  mind  with  religious  awe 
and  veneration.  Its  beauties  are  too  many  to  be  enumeratetl,  and 
can  only  be  judged  of  by  the  impressions  they  make  upon  the  be- 
holder, and  the  conclusion  will  be  greatly  in  favor  of  the  Gothic 
method  of  building  for  religious  purj>osfS,  when  wc  compare  the 
Abbey  with  even  St.  Paul's,  stu(M  '  ^  as  that  eilifice  is.  The  paint- 
ings on  the  windows,  against  whieli  we  are  apt  to  conceive  a  pre- 
juchce,  as  being  a  relic  of  popish  superstition,  have  a  very  happy 
ellect.  Kew  can  abstract  llieir  minds  so  totally  from  sensible  ob- 
jects, as  not  to  require  every  external  aid  to  their  mental  devotion. 
These  shoulil  therefore  l>e  made  auxiliary  and  subservient  to  the 
main  purpose,  *  and  pour  in  virtue  at  the  attentive  eye.'  Some  of 
those  paintings,  particularly  in  the  chapels  of  New  College,  Queens 
and  \\adham,at  Oxford,  are  exceedingly  striking.  The  colors  are 
vastly  beautiful,  and  of  an  endless  variety,  no  two  of  them  being 
exactly  alike;  the  light  whiih  is  admitted  through  them  is  ex- 
tremely pleasing  to  tlie  sight,  and  the  most  interesting  seenes  from 
sacred  hLstor)'  are  there  painted.  The  crucifixion,  the  resurrection, 
the  ascension,  among  numberless  others,  are  very  aflectingly  repre- 
sented. 

"Art  here  seems  to  have  usurped  the  {X)wers  of  nature  by  its 
imitation  of  her  works,  liy  her^w/,  mountains  are  sunk  down,  and 
valleys  made  to  rise,  dry  lands  are  turned  into  water,  and  streams 
are  conveyed  through  mountains  and  over  valleys,  as  it  were  through 
the  air,  to  any  distance.  In  short,  it  is  diflicult  here  to  distinguish 
the  iuiprovements  of  art  from  the  works  of  nature,  as  it  is  often  to 
know  what  is  reality  and  what  deception  in  the  public  exhibitions; 

i21 


162  THE      LIFE      OF 

some  of  which,  by  the  by,  strike  me  as  having  an  evil  tendency  to 
skepticism  in  some  very  important  articles. 

"  The  paintings  and  the  sculpture  with  which  the  palaces  and  seats 
abound,  prove  the  excellency  of  those  arts,  and  that  they  have  been 
carried  to  a  degree  of  perfection  of  w4iich  I  had  no  idea  that  they 
were  capable.  Of  numbers  of  the  performers  it  may  be  said  that 
their  '  art  is  nature,  and  their  pictures  thought'  It  may  be  doubt- 
ed, however,  whether  there  is  not  in  some  of  them  rather  too  much 
of  nature,  not  to  interfere  a  little  w^ith  the  rules  of  decency,  for  it 
w^ill  be  difficult  to  view  those  strong  resemblances  with  an  eye  ab- 
stracted altogether  from  the  objects  in  nature  which  they  imitate ; 
and  unless,  on  those  occasions,  we  can  resume  the  purity  and  inno- 
cence of  Eden,  a  fig  leaf  at  least  ought  not  to  be  dispensed  with. 
Some  of  those  pieces  will  make  the  story  of  Praxyteles  appear  less 
fabulous  than  we  might  at  first  imagine. 

"  It  is  said,  that  the  three  instances  wherein  England  is  distin- 
guished above  other  nations,  are  their  women,  their  gardens,  and 
their  inns.  The  last,  indeed,  are  at  a  degree  of  excellence  not  to 
be  exceeded ;  the  second  consist  of  serpentine  walks,  shaded  and 
bordered  with  shrubs,  trees  and  flowers,  disposed  in  the  greatest  im- 
aginable variety.  The  women  of  this  country  are  indeed  beautiful 
and  healthy,  not  generally  tall,  and  full  chested  ;  numbers  pitted 
wdth  the  small  pox.  They  seem  generally  of  a  pleasurable  turn, 
and  I  fancy  more  disposed  to  spend  a  fortune  than  to  save  one. 
That  of  intrigue  is  a  very  prevailing  spirit  among  them.  Music  is 
more  an  object  of  their  attention  and  business  than  the  domestic  du- 
ties. The  number  of  places  of  dissipation  and  pleasure  are  in- 
conceivable, especially  about  London.  Sundays  are  days  of  riot, 
excursion  and  dissipation. 

"  I  have  not,  in  the  course  of  my  residence  in  England,  seen 
any  thing  in  the  manners  of  the  people,  materially  different  from 
those  of  the  people  of  America.  The  arts  of  luxury  and  the  re- 
finements of  pleasure  are,  indeed,  carried  to  an  excess  from  which 
we  (thank  God)  are  as  yet  far  distant.  An  acquaintance  with 
the  manners  of  the  principal  families  at  New-York,  before  the 
present  troubles,  gives  a  good  idea  of  those  of  the  towns'm  England, 
and  the  people  of  New-England  compared  with  the  country  peo- 
ple in  England,  pretty  clearly,  in  their  manners,  show  their  origin. 


PETER     VAN     S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  163 

Tlie  latter  reflection  has  often  made  roe  recollect  the  surpiise  Eno-- 
lishrnen  have  expressed  at  the  sincrularities,  as  they  have  supposed 
them,  of  the  inhabitants  of  New-Enc:land.  Indeed,  the  ricid  ob- 
servance  of  the  Sabbath,  in  that  part  of  America,  does  not  prevail 
in  any  part  of  England  I  have  seen.  The  New-England  dialect  is 
not  more  remarkable  than  that  of  almost  every  county  in  En2;land. 
The  Somersetshire  is  infinitely  more  uncouth,  so  is  the  Norlblk  ; 
and  that  of  Bedfordshire,  Huntingtonshire,  and  Bucks,  resemble  it 
strongly. 

"  I  think  it  a  fault  in  a  stranger  to  confine  his  conversation  to 
his  own  countrymen  only,  instead  of  mixins:,  as  he  ouixht,  princi- 
pally with  those  of  the  place  he  is  in.  This  is  a  fault  ot  Enf^lii.h- 
men  abroad,  and  of  Americans  in  England. 

"  An  American  here,  will  view  objects  familiar  to  the  people  of 
England  with  a  kind  of  enthusiasm  similar  to  that  which  an  Eng- 
lishman feels  abroad.  The  monument  of  Shakspearc  will  allect 
us  as  the  tomb  of  Virgil  will  them;  like  Italy  to  them,  will  Eng- 
land aflect  us.  And  wliile  they  reflect  on  the  changes  of  that  once 
happy  seat  of  lil)erty,  of  science,  and  of  the  mus.s,  miw  we  not 
))r()gnoslicate  a  like  period  to  the  glory  of  this  nation,  raised  upon 
the  same  pillars  and  io  fall  with  them  ? — These  are  painful  rellec- 
tions  which  cannot  escape  a  liberal  mind,  whde  we  tread  this  classic 
grounii.' 


164  THE     LIFE     OF 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Mr.  Van  Schaack's  diary,  journals  of  travels,  correspondences, 
notes  of  debates  in  Parliament,  written  speculations  on  public  affairs, 
and  various  other  manuscripts,  sufficiently  indicate  that  the  six 
years  spent  by  him  in  England  were  not  suffered  to  pass  away  in 
listlessness  and  indolence.  With  an  active  and  an  inquisitive  mind, 
and  one  predisposed  to  improve  every  opportunity  of  enlarging  its 
fund  of  useful  information,  and  of  embellishing  and  perfecting  that 
already  beautiful  intellectual  superstructure,  for  which  a  suitable 
foundation  had  been  laid  in  his  previous  education,  he  found  his 
time  abundantly  and  usefully  occupied.  In  the  conversation  and 
society  of  literary  men  and  of  the  sages  of  the  law; — in  his  re- 
peated visits  to  various  literary,  philosophical,  and  other  public  in- 
stitutions;— in  his  excursions  and  travels  to  objects  and  places 
rendered  venerable  or  interesting,  by  their  antiquity,  by  historic 
fame,  or  by  classic  association  ; — in  the  proceedings  of  the  courts 
of  Westminster  Hall ; — in  the  discussions  which  agitated,  and 
almost  rent  asunder  the  public  councils  of  Britain,  and  of  which 
his  native  country  was  the  frequent  theme ; — in  the  portentous  as- 
pect of  European  affairs,  and  which,  by  the  wars  of  Britain  with 
France,  Spain  and  Holland,  were  carried  into  the  four  quarters  of 
the  globe, — he  found  ample  subjects  for  the  action  of  his  mind,  and 
in  many  of  them  for  the  disposition  of  his  time.  His  worth  was  re- 
cognized, and  his  good  qualities,  and  literary  acquirements  and  in- 
chnations,  gained  for  him  an  introduction  to  many  valuable  friends, 
which  soon  ripened  into  intimacy,  and  secured  for  him  superior 
means  of  information,  and  such  opportunities  for  enlarging  his  fund 
of  knowledge  as  have  rarely  been  enjoyed  by  Americans  visiting 
England.* 

*  Mr.  V.  S.  was  accustomed  to  relate  many  conversations  and   anecdotes 
of  great  interest,  which  came  to  his  knowledge,  or   took  place  in  his  inter- 


PETER     VAN      SCHAACK.  1G5 

His  situation  in  the  metropolis,  (where  he  spent  most  of  his  time,) 
imposed  upon  him  the  discharge  of  many  duties  in  the  service  of  his 
unfortunate  countrymen,  ^vho,  like  himself,  had  been  driven  from 
their  homes  by  the  civil  war,  and  who  naturally  sought  the  aid  and 
counsel  of  a  fellow-countryman  of  his  reputation  and  abilities.  His 
services  were  always  promptly  lendcred,  and  without  compensa- 
tion, although  often  atteniled  with  onerous  labor  and  great  en- 
croachments upon  his  time.  His  pen  was  employed  to  secure 
remuneration  from  the  British  government  for  many  loyalists,  who 
had  lost  their  all  in  the  civil  war  in  America,  and  in  vindicating 
their  character  and  motives  from  the  indiscriminate  attacks  which 
had  been  made  upon  them,  by  some  of  the  speakers  in  the  British 
Parliament.*  In  writing  from  London  to  his  friends  in  America, 
he  says:  "No  man  existing  devotes  himself  more  to  his  friends 
than  I  do;  for  whom  am  I  employed  often  from  morning  to  night, 
and  what  is  my  rew^ard  ?" — "  Hardly  any  man,  I  believe,  has  such 
a  multiplicity  and  variety  of  applications  as  I  have." — "  However 
I  may  be  considered  on  your  side  of  the  water,  permit  me  to  say, 
here  I  am  marked  by  my  friends  for  the  great  variety  of  business  I 
go  through,  and  all  the  concerns  of  others  and  gratis  in  the 
bargain." 

Mr.  Van  Schaack  w^as  a  frequent  attendant  upon  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  British  Parliament,  and  made  notes  of  some  of  the 
debates ;  particularly  those  on  American  affairs.  A  few  months 
after  his  arrival  in  England,  the  conduct  of  the  British  General, 
Sir  William  Howe,  and  of  his  brother  Admiral  Lord  Howe,  in  the 
American  campaigns,  was  made  the  subject  of  Parliamentary  in- 
quiry. The  two  brothers  had  been  associated  in  the  military  com- 
mand in  America,  and  had  also  acted  in  conjunction,  under  an  act 
of  Parliament,  as  commissioners  for  restoring  peace. 

The  flagrant  mismanagement  of  General  Howe  in  the  American 

course  with  conspicuous  characters  in  England.  No  memoranda  were  made 
of  these  at  the  time,  and  tliey  cannot  now  be  narrated  with  the  necessary- 
accuracy.  With  the  author  it  has  been  a  subject  for  reproach,  that  opportu- 
nities for  perpetuating  these  precious  relics,  have  been  sutlered  to  pass  by, 
which,  alas  !  are  now  lost  forever. 

*  It  should  here  be  observed,  that  3Ir.V.  S.  never  made  any  application  to 
the  British  government  for  remuneration  for  his  own  losses  and  suderings  in 
the  American  war. 


166  THE     LIFE     OF 

campaigns,  had  excited  great  dissatisfaction  in  England,  and  no  doubt 
was  exceedingly  provoking  to  the  American  loyalists.  It  is  natu- 
ral to  suppose  that  those  Americans  who,  upon  principle,  and  from 
a  sincere  desire  to  promote  what  they  considered  the  happiness  of 
their  country,  were  opposed  to  taking  up  arms  against  the  parent 
state,  now  that  the  sword  was  unsheathed,  should  have  desired  a 
speedy  restoration  of  peace  and  tranquillity ;  and,  to  that  end, 
should  have  anticipated  prompt  and  vigorous  movements  on  the 
part  of  the  British  commanders,  instead  of  a  protracted  war.  Not  to 
mention  others,  in  a  long  catalogue  of  military  blunders,  the  neglect 
of  General  Howe  to  follow  up  his  first  victory  on  Long  Island,  and 
his  suffering  the  American  army,  w^hen  completely  in  his  power,  to 
secure  their  retreat  to  the  continent ;  his  protracted  inactivity  in 
New-York ;  his  wretched  movements  in  New  Jersey  and  Pennsyl- 
vania, and,  above  all,  his  "wild-goose"  expedition  to  the  Delaware 
and  the  Chesapeake,  at  the  most  critical  juncture  of  the  war,  and 
when,  according  to  his  instructions,  he  should  have  directed  his 
movements  to  a  co-operation  with  the  two  armies  from  Canada 
under  Colonel  St.  Leger  and  General  Burgoyne; — constituted  a 
series  of  inexplicable  mihtary  blunders  and  misconduct ;  and  the 
unmeaning  festival  of  "  Mischienza^'^  given  to  him  by  his  fellow- 
officers  at  Philadelphia,  which  closed  his  military  career  in  America, 
constituted  the  only  evidence  of  his  "  empty  victories." 

It  is  impossible  now  to  divine  what  might  not  have  been  the 
consequences  to  the  liberties  of  America,  had  the  British  commander 
followed  up  with  vigor  his  first  success  upon  Long  Island.  That 
there  W'as  a  chance  (and  that  not  a  narrow  one)  for  a  result  fatal 
to  American  independence,  must  be  conceded ;  although  it  may  well 
be  questioned,  whether  the  spirit  abroad  in  the  American  people 
would  have  admitted  of  any  thing  more  than  a  temporary  subjec- 
tion. And  yet,  had  the  British  commanders  fully  prosecuted  their 
conceded  advantages  in  1776,  and  the  early  part  of  1777,  the 
junction  of  the  two  armies  from  Canada  and  New-York,  in  the 
next  campaign,  would  have  been  highly  possible,  if  not  probable; 
and  had  Parliament,  on  such  an  event,  under  the  specious  plea  of 
attaching  magnanimity  to  success,  immediately  repealed  all  the 
obnoxious  acts,  the  United  States  might  have  continued  for  many 
years  to  be  British  colonies,  and  the  genius  of  history  would  have 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  167 

been  left  to  stigmatize  as  a  "  rebcllioji,''^  those  efforts  which  success 
has  stamped  as  a  mighty  Revolution. 

A  British  historian*  refers  to  the  severe  strictures  of  the  politi- 
cal writers  of  that  clay,  upon  General  Howe's  military  conduct  in 
the  American  campaigns.  Mr.  Van  Schaack  probably  entered  the 
lists  on  that  occasion.  Among  his  manuscripts  was  found  the  fol- 
lowing document,  in  his  own  hand-writincr.  As  the  production  of  a 
writer  of  known  candor,  and  of  an  intelliijent  American,  who  was 
well  acquainted  with  the  p^eography  of  the  country,  and  who  was 
also  in  his  native  country  at  the  time  the  questioned  militar)*  move- 
ments took  place,  and  who,  to  these  advantages,  adiltd  that  of  be- 
ini^  now  transferred  to  the  capital  of  the  British  empire,  where  he 
had  an  opportunity  of  comparing  acts  with  instructions; — the  fol- 
lowing article,  while  it  cannot  fail  to  interest  as  a  classical  compo- 
sition, is  worthy  of  preservation  as  a  historical  document. 

Before  introducing  this  paper,  however,  it  will  be  proper  to 
place  l)efore  the  reader  the  following  brief  minutes  made  by  Mr. 
Van  Schaack  of  the  Parliamentary  debate  in  Apiil,  177i',  wliicli 
gave  ri.se  to  his  composition. 

''  29tli  April,  1  attended  the  House  of  Commons  from  three 
o'ch)ck  till  eleven,  during  all  which  time  there  were  warm  debates. 
The  speakers  were, 

"  Lord  Nugent,  General  Burgoync, 

Ivord  North,  Charles  Fox, 

Mr.  Jenkinson,  lx)rd  Howe, 

Judge  -Advocate  of  Scotland,  General  Conway, 

Mr.  Onflow,  Mr.  Dempster. 

"  Mr.  Montague  was  in  the  chair,  the  House  going  into  a  com- 
mittee, pur>uant  to  their  order,  upon  Sir  WilHam  Howe's  motion. 
The  debate  was  very  diffuse,  the  opposition  endeavoring  to  bring 
on  a  general  inquiry  into  the  management  of  the  American  war, 
and  ministry  laboring  to  prevent  it,  by  putting  the  question  aside 
upon  a  point  of  order.     General  Howe  having  declared  that  the 

points  to  which  he  inteniled  examiriing  Lord  Cornwallis  and , 

were  military  questions  general  and  particular,  touching  the  general 
conduct  of  the  American  war.  Lord  Nugent  declared  against  the 
House  entering  into  a  di:>cubsion  of  military  points,  of  which  the 

•  Bisseit. 


168  THE      LIFE     OF 

House  could  not  form  a  proper  judgment ;  and  that  it  was  unne- 
cessary, as  no  charge  was  brought  against  Sir  William  Howe.  He 
paid  him  and  Lord  Howe  the  highest  and  most  extravagant  com- 
pliments. He  said  the  design  of  France  must  look  to  an  invasion 
possibly  of  England,  but  most  probably  of  Ireland,  and  that  this 
House  had  encouraged  such  an  invasion,  by  their  conduct  towards 
the  people  of  Ireland. 

"  Opposition  contended  for  a  full  inquiry.  Blame  must  he 
somewhere.  The  blood  and  treasure  which  had  been  exhausted  to 
no  purpose  demanded  an  inquiry.  The  failure  of  the  Northern 
expedition  was  not  to  be  considered  separately.  The  whole  war, 
and  all  parts  involved  in  it  were  to  be  taken  up. 

"  Lord  Nugent  said  Lord  Howe's  naval  conduct  could  not  be 
paralleled  by  any  naval  transaction  in  the  history  of  Europe,  or  of 
the  universe.  Newspaper  scribblers,  coffee-house  politicians  were 
not  to  be  regarded.  It  was  only  from  such,  not  from  administra- 
tion, that  any  imputation  had  been  fixed  on  the  noble  General. 
(No  one  had,  nor  did,  nor  can  quere  as  to  this.  I  understood  Lord 
North  so,  but  he  denied  having  signified  his  approbation  of  General 
Howe's  conduct.) 

''  Lord  Howe  said  that  the  inquiry  was  not  to  be  into  the  mili- 
tary manoeuvres  merely  as  such,  not  the  propriety  or  impropriety 
of  an  attack,  &c.,  but  that  the  conduct  of  the  General  was  to  be 
tried,  as  well  as  a  statesman  as  an  oflficer. 

"  It  was  over  and  over  said  in  the  House,  as  it  has  been  in  the 
House  of  Lords,  that  the  empire  was  dismembered — that  thirteen 
provinces  were  lost — that  the  nation  was  on  the  brink  of  ruin — 
that  Parliament  and  the  nation  had  been  hoodwinked — that  seventy 
thousand  men  had  been  supplied  (upon  jtajper  at  least  and  in  point 
of  expense)  for  the  American  war. 

"  Mr.  Dempster  said  that  he  was  in  France  when  the  news  of 
General  Burgoyne's  deleat  arrived  there — that  the  French  were 
tired  of  their  connection  wdth  America — that  their  merchants  were 
uneasy  at  the  credit  they  had  given,  but  upon  that  event  their  sen- 
timents instantly  changed." 

The  document  from  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  pen  before  alluded  to, 
was  addressed  to  General  Howe. 


peter    van    schaack.  169 

"  Sir  : 

"  The  grouiul  which  your  noble  brother  proposed  for  an  inquiry 
into  your  conduct  in  America,  in  the  double  capacity  you  held  as 
Commander-in-chief  and  as  a  Statesman,  was  liberal  and  just.  If  it 
had  a  greater  tendency  to  advance  the  public  justice  than  to  promote 
your  personal  advantage  or  honor,  it  would  argue  the  patriotism 
of  an  ancient  Roman,  in  a  national  cause  to  sacrifice  the  feelings 
of  the  brother  to  the  duties  of  the  citizen.  [The  demerits  of  the  one 
brother  would  then  be  atoned  for  by  the  virtues  of  the  other,  and 
the  name  of  Howe  still  add  lustre  to  the  list  of  British  worthies.]* 

"  The  characters  you  held  w^ere  indeed  important ;  in  one  of 
which  you  had  the  direction  of  a  great  military  force,  aided  and 
supported  by  a  pow^erful  navy  ;  in  the  other,  you  w'as  clothed  with 
the  most  ample  powers  by  your  King  and  country.  Coercion  and 
conciliation  were  equally  in  your  power,  and  might  mutually 
have  been  made  subservient  to  each  other.  How  you  improved 
those  advantages,  with  what  fidelity  you  executed  the  unlimited 
confidence  placed  in  you,  are  subjects  which  demand  a  serious 
inquiry  ;  an  inquiry  the  more  necessary,  from  the  nature  of  that 
evidence  which  you  now  introduce  before  the  great  council  of  the 
nation. 

"  After  being  at  the  head  of  the  army  for  more  than  three  years, 
during  w^hich  time,  in  a  constant  correspondence  with  administration, 
you  never  gave  the  least  discouragement  from  the  prosecution  of 
the  war,  you  are  come  home  bearing  your  blushing  honors  thick 
upon  you,  and  enjoying  the  fruits  of  a  most  lucrative  employment; 
and  now  you  produce  witnesses  to  prove  the  impracticability  of  the 
conquest  of  America.  Motives  of  justice  to  your  country,  and  a 
regard  to  your  personal  honor,  should  induce,  nay  impel  you  to 
explain  yourself  upon  this  subject;  and  the  most  superficial  ob- 
server w^ill  ask  at  what  time  you  frst  entertained  this  idea.  Is  it 
from  the  speeches  in  Parliament  that  it  has  originated,  and  is  it  in 
England  that  you  have  first  learned  the  strength  of  America  ?  If 
not,  if  you  held  this  opinion  earlier,  was  it  not  incumbent  on  you  to 
suggest  it  ?    And  why  did  you  see  your  country  exhaust  its  blood 

*  "  Dele"  is  written  opposite  the  words  in  brackets,  indicating  that  the 
writer  had  not  perfected  his  composition,  and  thus  raising  a  doubt  whether  it 
was  in  fact  published. 

22 


170  THE     LIFE     OF 

and  treasure — why  encourage  to  still  greater  efforts,  if  the  object 
was  fruitless  and  the  purpose  unattainable  ?  Surely  this  idea,  if  it 
was  yours,  (and  you  found  the  justification  of  your  conduct  upon 
it,)  ought  to  have  been  communicated,  and  your  country  apprised 
of  their  danger,  to  enable  them  to  make  a  peace  before  it  was  too 
late ;  before  the  affections  of  the  Americans  w^ere  totally  alienated, 
and  before  alliances  were  formed  so  hostile  to  the  interests  of  this 
country.  Your  allies  in  politics  have  with  consistency  argued 
against  this  war  in  all  its  stages ;  but  what  must  they  think  of  you, 
w^ho  could  encourage  its  continuance,  who  could  stimulate  the 
minister  to  farther  exertions,  and  who  could  shed  the  blood  of  your 
own  troops  in  a  desperate  cause,  and  that  of  the  Americans  (ac- 
cording to  their  opinion  at  least)  in  a  just  one  ? 

"  The  particular  manoeuvres  of  your  campaigns  have  been  so 
often  discussed,  and  are  now  so  fully  understood,  that  they  need 
not  be  considered  in  the  detail.  Every  rational  American,  whether 
of  the  one  side  or  the  other,  formed  his  respective  opinion  of  your 
abilities  to  carry  on  the  war,  and  of  your  zeal  to  put  an  end  to  it, 
from  the  affair  of  Long  Island. 

"  Without  considering  the  justice  or  propriety  of  the  war,  you, 
sir,  came  over  against  the  Americans  as  against  rebels  ;  as  such, 
therefore,  you  ought  to  have  directed  your  conduct  against  them. 
The  principle  of  every  state  is,  to  suppress  as  speedily  as  possible 
the  very  first  appearances  of  rebellion.  It  is  an  evil  w^hich  is  daily 
growing,  and  its  aim  is  against  the  very  existence  of  government. 
Principiis  obsta  is  here  the  indispensable  maxim,  which  you  had 
every  motive,  as  a  good  man,  to  pursue,  and  from  which  you  had 
every  reason,  as  a  wise  one,  if  the  thing  was  not  absolutely  im- 
practicable, to  expect  success.  The  American  army  w^as  at  that 
time  in  its  infancy  ;  there  was  little  discipline  amongst  them ; 
they  were  ill-appointed,  and  ill- provided  with  necessaries  ;  and,  in 
the  article  of  military  stores,  they  were  almost  destitute  of  resource. 
Their  numbers,  though  much  exaggerated,  were  indeed  considera- 
ble J  but  consisting  chiefly  of  militia,  in  the  state  of  discipline  they 
were  then  in  that  circumstance  was  in  your  favor.  The  associated 
States  had  not  as  yet  been  organized  ;  their  governments  had  not 
then  taken  root.  If  ever  there  was  a  time,  this  was  it,  to  put  an 
end  to  the  war.     If  decision  was  your  object.  Long  Island  was  the 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  17 1 

theatre  for  it.  The  situation  of  the  country  was  in  your  favor. 
Those  difficulties  which  are  now  so  largely  expatiated  upon,  ex- 
isted not  at  Brooklyn  ;  there  were  no  mountains,  no  impassable 
rivers,  no  impenetrable  woods,  no  narrow  defiles  to  impede  your 
march  or  favor  ambuscades.  Works  indeed  there  were,  but  what 
country  is  to  be  conquered  without  fortifications  ?  What  war  is  to 
be  carried  on  without  hazard,  and  what  object  can  so  well  justify 
risk  as  that  of  puttinc;  an  end  not  only  to  a  war,  but  to  a  civil  war  ? 

"  Yet  here,  in  a  time  so  auspicious,  under  circumstances  so  fa- 
vorable for  decision,  what  was  your  conduct  ?  With  an  army  of 
twenty-five  thousand  men,  in  the  '  full  powers  of  health,  discipline 
and  valor,'  ably  appointed  and  amply  provided  ;  after  routing  with 
great  slaughter  your  enemy  from  their  advanced  and  most  material 
posts  ;  when  they  were  in  the  utmost  confusion ;  when  they  had 
lost  two  of  their  generals  and  a  number  of  their  best  officers,  and, 
panic-strurk,  retireil  into  their  xcorks  ;  wlien  your  troops  showed, 
as  you  say,  *  a  determined  courage,  and  steadiness  and  ardor  never 
exceeded,  and  when  their  pursuit  was  so  close  to  the  enemy's  prin- 
cipal redoubt,  and  with  such  eagerness  to  attack  it  th;it  it  rerjuired 
repeated  orders  to  prevail  upon  them  to  desist  from  the  attempt;' 
and  when  you  declare  '  it  was  apparent  (and  who  can  doubt  it?) 
that  it  would  have  been  carrieti,' — what  was  your  conduct  at  this 
critical  hour,  when  decision  was  in  y^ur  reaeh  ?  Your  orders 
•v^-ere — what  ?  Tn  embrace  the  favorable  crisis,  which  as  an  oili- 
cer  and  as  a  citizen  you  should  so  eagerly  have  seized,  and  which, 
under  all  its  circumstances,  will  never  return  ?  To  avail  yourself 
of  the  general  (cnNternation,  and  of  the  insular  situation  where 
your  enemy  w.i^  ;ii^ 'lutely  precluded  from  a  retreat?  No;  in 
spite  of  the  eagerness  of  your  brave  troops,  and  of  the  remon- 
strance of  some  of  your  officers  who  could  see  no  propriety  in  re- 
pressing an  impetuosity,  which,  in  certain  cases,  (and  this  was  one 
of  them,)  is  irresistible, — you  ordered  your  *  troops  hack  to  a  hol- 
low way  out  of  the  reach  of  musketry.^ 

"  It  were  to  be  wished,  that  you  would  attempt  to  justify  your 
conduct  by  the  example  of  some  former  commander,  in  a  similar 
situation  ;  but,  despising  all  former  maxims  of  war,  you  will  prob- 
ably disregard  its  practice.  If  ever  there  was  a  first  principle  in 
any  science,  it  is  certainly  one  in  the  art  of  war,  that  an  advantage 


172  THE     LIFE     OF 

gained  is  to  be  improved ;  that  an  enemy  thrown  into  confusion 
are  to  be  closely  pursued,  more  especially  when  that  enemy  is  an 
irregular  undisciplined  army ;  and  that  the  idea  of  superiority, 
which  is  perhaps  the  true  foundation  of  courage,  should  be  encour- 
aged in  his  troops,  and  not  checked,  by  a  General. 

"  But  you  argue,  sir,  as  if  you  expected  certainty  of  success  to 
justify  the  attempt ;  as  if  enterprise  was  criminal  in  war,  and  as  if 
the  relation  between  cause  and  effect  was  previously  to  be  demon- 
strated by  the  rules  of  mathematical  precision.  Not  so  argued  the 
heroes  you  served  under  (and  as  a  subordinate  officer  it  is  owned 
with  credit)  during  the  last  war.  The  heights  of  Abraham  and 
Louisburg,  the  redoubts  at  Martinico,  and  the  fortifications  of 
Havana,  (not  to  multiply  instances  with  which  the  British  annals 
abound,)  should  have  taught  you  what  British  troops  are  capable 
of,  under  Generals  who  encouraged,  not  restrained,  their  *  courage, 
their  steadiness  and  their  ardor.' 

"  You  say,  however,  that  it  was  evident  that '  the  lines  would 
have  been  yours  by  regular  approaches.'  Here,  sir,  you  laid  the 
foundation  of  confidence  in  the  Americans  upon  the  ruins  of  that 
sup  eriority  in  your  own  troops,  which  none  at  that  time  was  hardy 
enough  to  deny ;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  you  dispirited  as  far  as 
you  could  your  own  army,  by  holding  up  their  enemy  as  on  a  foot- 
ing of  equality  with  them.  But  you  ought  to  have  foreseen  the 
probabihty  of  what  afterwards  happened,  against  which  the  loss 
you  would  have  sustained  in  an  assault  against  men  under  the 
influence  of  panic,  confusion  and  dismay,  was  not  to  be  placed  in 
competition.  They  knew  too  well  the  danger  they  were  in  upon 
an  island  to  remain  there.  You  should  have  known  that  they 
would  not  choose  ground  less  difficult  to  you,  nor  confine  them- 
selves in  works  less  strong.  The  men  you  thus  absurdly  permitted 
to  escape,  you  had  afterwards  to  encounter  at  New-York,  at  Fort 
Washington,  and  at  the  White  Plains  ;  and  for  every  life  you  saved 
by  not  attacking  the  lines  at  Long  Island,  hecatombs  of  British 
soldiers  have  fallen  a  melancholy  sacrifice. 

"  But,  if  these  works  were  too  formidable  to  be  assaulted, — 
great  and  glorious  to  your  country  as  was  the  object, — why  did 
you  not  wait  the  co-operation  of  the  fleet,  in  which  event  the  ene- 
my's retreat  would  have  been  cut  ofl",  and  they  subdued,  as  you 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  173 

express  yourself, '  at  an  easy  rate  V  A  suspension  of  the  attack  at 
Bedford  for  a  favorable  wind,  if  you  was  determined  not  to  assail 
the  lines,  and  knowing,  as  under  that  plan  you  ought  to  have 
known,  that  the  enemy  might  retire  in  such  silence  as  to  elude 
your  vigilance,  would  have  been  meritorious  and  consistent,  at  least 
with  the  excess  of  your  Fabian  caution  ;  or  surely,  at  least  you 
ouiiht  to  have  summoned  them  to  surrender  ;  which,  in  the  panic 
they  were  in,  was  full  as  probable  as  their  laying  down  their  arms 
afterwards  at  Fort  Washington. 

"  I  have  dwelt  tlie  longer  upon  this  particular  instance,  because 
I  consider  it  as  the  source  of  all  the  calamities  which  have  since 
followed.  If  you  was  not  determined  to  protract  the  icar, — if  vou 
had  no  eye  to  lucrative  motives, — your  conduct  betrayed  the  rrposs- 
est  ignorance.  Motives  of  duty  to  your  K'mrr  and  countrv, — mo- 
tives of  preservation  of  your  own  troops,  and  even  humanity  to  the 
Americans,  whom  you  atfected  to  consider  as  a  deludetl  people, 
shoulil  have  combintil  to  make  you  improve  this  favorable  crisis, — 
a  crisis  wliich  has  often  dtcideil  the  fate  not  onlv  of  armies  but  of 
empires. 

"  Meaning  to  confine  myself  to  such  parts  only  of  your  con- 
duct as  are  unequivocal,  I  shall  not  enter  into  the  consideration 
of  your  particular  fnaiuputres^  m  which  case  you  might  call  for 
maps,  and  proofs  of  the  exact  dimensions  of  every  fascine,  the 
diplh  of  every  ditch,  the  strength  of  every  redoubt,  and  the  height 
of  every  hill  your  enemy  occupied.  I  ^hall  also  omit  the  total 
want  of  vigor  in  your  operations,  in  the  interval  between  the  re- 
duction of  Ix)ng  I^l.irui,  the  attack  upon  New-York,  and  your  land- 
ing first  upon  Frog's  Neck,  and  then  in  the  Sound ;  nor  will  it 
be  necessary  to  take  notice  of  your  disgraceful  retreat  from  White 
Plains,  when  your  enemy,  in  the  language  of  one  of  their  oilicers, 
(Mr.  Trumbull,)  were  situate<l  '  like  a  clan  of  wandering  Arabs. '  * 

"  The  disposition  of  your  army  in  Jersey,  must  strike  every 
military  eye,  when  the  most  important  and  accessible  post  was 
intrastcd  to  a  drunken  and  disgusted  foreign  officer.     You  had,  in- 

•  The  letter  from  Mr.  Trumbull  which  contains  this  expression,  and 
which  was  intercepted  and  printed  in  New- York,  is  strongly  descriptive  of 
the  ruinotis  condition  of  the  American  affairs,  and  concludes—"  Nothing 
under  Heaven  can  save  us,  but  the  enemy's  going  to  the  Southtcard.^' 


174  THE     LIFE     OF 

deed, — as  appears  by  evidence  before  the  House  of  Commons, — 
ordered  redoubts  to  be  built,  which  would  have  secured  the  gar- 
rison till  they  could  have  been  relieved  by  the  troops  at  Borden- 
town ;  but  why  you  did  not  enforce  those  orders,  and  when  you 
found  them  disobeyed  did  not  remove  the  officer,  remains  yet  to 
be  explained. 

"  During  this  whole  winter,  when  the  enemy  were  exerting 
every  nerve  to  raise  an  army,  and  when  their  whole  force  consist- 
ed of  but  a  few  hundreds  to  guard  their  artillery  and  baggage  at 
Morristown,  you  remained  quiet  and  inert  at  New-York,  promo- 
ting schemes  of  diversion,  instead  of  devising  plans  of  military  oper- 
ation. Very  important  were  the  effects  of  your  conduct  on  the 
minds  of  people  in  the  country.  The  one  side  conceived  a  des- 
pondency that  the  Commander-in-chief  made  not  one  exertion  to 
check  the  reviving  hopes  of  the  enemy,  or  to  wipe  off  the  dis- 
grace which  had  tarnished  the  British  arms  in  the  disaster  of  Tren- 
ton ;  while  the  other  side  exulted  in  that  insensibility  which  was 
incapable  of  feeling  this  disgrace  ; — compared  you  to  Nero,  who 
was  fiddling  while  Rome  was  on  fire,  and  were  animated  with 
confidence  while  they  had  you  to  contend  with.  You  must  recol- 
lect facts  that  will  convince  you,  that  this  representation  of  your 
enemy's  sentiments  of  you  is  not  exaggerated ;  not  to  mention  that 
you  was  a  constant  toast  at  the  table  of  the  Congress,  you  must 
remember  that  the  celebrated  author  of  Common  Sense  suesfested 
the  most  sanguine  hopes  to  the  Americans,  from  their  beingj  op- 
posed by  a  General  who  had  committed  such  egregious  blunders. 
He  argued  justly,  that  the  panic  your  army  had  excited,  and 
which  miM  have  been  so  fatal  to  the  American  cause  had  it 
been  improved,  might  be  converted  into  a  real,  permanent  benefit 
in  the  advancement  of  it,  and  that  they  who  had  escaped  such  a 
desperate  situation  as  had  the  Americans,  ought  not  hereafter  to 
despond  under  aiiy  difficulties. 

"  Nor  had  you  credit  for  any  humanity,  on  the  score  of  your 
inactive  conduct.  While  the  Americans  despised  you  for  your 
want  of  military  exertion,  they  detested  you  for  the  cruelties  you 
permitted  to  be  exercised  upon  the  unhappy  men  you  made  pris- 
oners at  Fort  Washington.  Instead  of  making  these  the  instru- 
ments of  regaining  the  prisoners  of  your  army  in  New  England, 


PETER     VAN      6CHAACK.  175 

who,  besides  the  accession  they  would  have  been  to  your  numbers, 
would  have  given  you  that  military  intelligence  you  complain  you 
wanted,  and  the  want  of  which  you  would  make  a  charge  against 
the  unfortunate  friends  of  government ;  you  sutFered  your  prisoners 
to  languish  in  jails  till  they  were  deemed  by  General  Washington 
improper  subjects  of  exchange.  It  is  to  be  wished,  a  veil  could  be 
thrown  over  your  correspondence  with  General  Wiishington  upon 
this  matter.  The  credit  you  had  gained  among  your  enemies,  for 
the  reluctance  you  expressed  against  entering  into  service  against 
a  people  who  had  erected  a  monument  to  the  memory  of  your 
ever-to-be-lamented  brother,  was  easily  etfaccd  by  your  subse- 
(juent  conduct,  when  they  saw  that  your  gene) os it i/  was  not  proof 
against  the  temptations  of  wealth  and  power,  and  that  your 
humanity   could    not  one   moment  procure  a  suspension   oi   your 

pleasures. 

"  Vour  conduct  in  the  campaign  ul  1777,  has  justly  attracted 
universal  incjuiry.  The  chagrin  of  Britons,  and  of  Americans 
friendly  to  Britain,  was  not  greater  than  the  exultation  of  her  ene- 
mies. Never  w  as  the  ))ublic  expectation  raised  higher  than  at  the 
commencement  of  that  campaign.  You  say  yourself,  that  the 
rebels  were  sensible  that  their  whole  stake  depended  upon  the 
success  of  that  campaign,  and  that  they  used  every  compulsory 
means  to  those  who  did  not  enter  voluntarily  into  their  service.  It 
had  been  received  as  a  first  principle  in  the  conduct  of  the  war, 
that  a  junction  was  to  be  formed  between  the  two  armies  from 
Canatla  and  New-York;  and  indeed  the  opinions  of  all  parties  co- 
incided, that  nature  pointed  out  the  Hudson's  River  as  the  theatre 
of  the  war.  Your  own  sentiments  were  known  to  have  been  clear 
and  decisive  upon  this  subject,  and  to  have  been  in  conformity  with 
(ieiieral  (iage's  ideas  in  his  letter  to  the  minister  of  1st  October, 
177 J,  wherein  he  declares  himself  in  these  terms  for  preferring 
Hudson's  River :  'its  .situation  between  the  eastern  and  western 
colonies  is  advantageous,  besides  being  commodious  in  transporting 
the  necessaries  of  an  arnjy.  We  are  made  to  believe,  also,  that 
many  friends  in  that  province  would  appear  in  arms,  and  the  troops 
receive  many  supplies  they  are  in  want  of.  .1  communication  with 
Canada  mi»:ht  be   better  secured  than  in  any  other  part;  and 


176  THE     LIFE     OF 

during  the  winter,  when  troops  cannot  keep  the  field,  attempts 
might  be  made  upon  the  Southern  provinces.' 

"  More  cogent  reasons  it  is  impossible  to  suggest  in  favor  of 
any  measure.  It  is  to  be  presumed  that  they  were  the  result  of  a 
joint  consultation  with  you  and  Generals  Clinton  and  Burgoyne, 
the  latter  of  whom  came  to  England  and  procured  the  command 
of  the  Northern  army,  equipped  with  every  necessary  to  act '  in 
concert'  with  you.  In  your  letter  of  9th  October,  1775,  you  say 
'  that  the  corps  from  New-York'  (which  you  propose  to  be  twelve 
thousand)  '  should  be  employed  in  opening  a  communication  with 
Canada  in  the^r^^  instance ;'  and  you  add,  that  *  the  accomplish- 
ment of  the  'primary  object  for  opening  the  communication  being 
obtained  by  the  two  armies,  these  corps  might  take  separate  routes 
into  Massachusetts  Bay.'  In  November,  1776,  you  indeed  propose 
a  more  extensive  plan  of  operations,  but  as  this  would  require  rein- 
forcements, which  it  was  not  probable  could  be  furnished,  it  was 
dropped ;  though,  be  it  remembered,  that  of  this  plan  the  co-oper- 
ation was  an  essential  part,  and  Philadelphia  w^as  not  to  be  invaded 
till  autumn.  In  December,  1776,  upon  the  declared  expectation 
that  your  army  would  consist  of  nineteen  thousand  men  only,  you 
first  suggested  the  design  of  acting  offensively  w^ith  the  principal 
army  in  Pennsylvania,  upon  the '  change  w^hich  you  say  had  taken 
place  in  people's  minds  there ;'  but  then,  you  say,  a  corps  would  be 
left  *  to  act  defensively  upon  Hudson's  River,  to  cover  Jersey,  on 
that  side,  as  well  as  to  facilitate  in  some  degree  the  approach  of  the 
army  from  Canada.'  January  20th,  1777,  you  propose  a  reinforce- 
ment of  twenty  or  fifteen  thousand  men,  which  '  would  enable  you 
(you  say)  to  enter  the  Delaware  by  sea,  and  the  main  body  to  pen- 
etrate into  Pennsylvania  by  way  of  Jersey,  and  there  w^ould  also 
be  a  corps  to  act  from  Rhode  Island.  On  the  other  hand,  (you 
say,)  if  the  reinforcements  are  small,  the  operations  will  be  much 
curtailed,  or  if  none  arrive,  we  shall  be  obliged  to  act  in  one  body 
in  Jersey.' 

"  We  have  now  stated  the  different  plans  which  you  proposed, 
and  as  the  King's  approbation,  signified  to  you  in  the  minister's 
letter  of  3d  March,  1777,  must,  in  your  construction  of  it,  relate  to 
one  or  other  of  them,  it  is  incumbent  on  you  to  show  to  which  of 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  177 

those  plans  that  approbation  did  relate,  so  as  to  authorize  you  to 
go  to  Philadelphia  by  sea,  and  under  the  material  circumstance  of 
evacuating  Jersey,  and  leaving  Hudson's  River  defenceless.  Was 
it  of  the  plan  proposed  in  December  ?  In  that  you  mentioned,  as 
a  part  of  it,  '  the  covering  Jersey,  acting  defensively  on  Hudson's 
River,  and  facilitating  the  approach  of  the  army  from  Canada.' 
Was  it  of  the  plan  proposed  in  January,  1777  ?  Then  you  say, 
that  '  without  reintbrccments,  you  must  curtail  your  operations,  and 
act  in  one  body  in  Jersey.'  Was  it  curtailing  your  operations,  or 
actincr  upon  a  smaller  scale,  (as  you  say  you  would  be  compelled 
to  if  no  reinforcement  arrived,)  to  go  to  the  Chesapeake  ?  Your  own 
letter  from  the  head  of  Klk  contradicts  this,  for  you  urge  your  then 
extended  situation  as  a  plea  for  demanding  greater  reinforcements  ; 
and  yet  you  say  in  another  letter,  that  you,  was  restricted  tVoni 
entering  upon  more  extensive  operations  by  the  icant  of  forces.' 

"  You  were  told  that  your  r-  -  for  the  deviation  from  your 

original  plan  were  *  solid  and  decisive.*  What  were  those  reasons  ? 
In  your  letter  of  December,  previous  to  the  Trenton  disaster,  you 
say  there  was  '  a  trreat  change  in  the  minds  of  ])eople  in  Pennsyl- 
vania,' which  iiiiluLcd  you  to  determine  on  going  thither,  retain- 
ing Jersey,  however,  and  concerting  measures  to  facilitate  the 
aj)proach  of  the  army  from  Canada.  Did  these  reasons  remain,  or 
was  there  no  change  of  circumstances  ? 

"  In  your  letter  of  20th  January,^  1777,  you  say, '  the  unfortu- 
nate and  untimely  defeat  at  Trenton  had  thrown  you  fartht-r  hack 
than  was  at  fii>t  apprehende<l,from  the  great  encouragement  it  had 
given  to  the  rebels.'  And  in  your  letter  of  7th  July,  you  say, 
that  the  war  was  then  upon  a  far  different  scale,  willi  respect  to 
the  increaseil  j)o\vers  of  the  enemy,  than  it  wnsthe  lust  campaign, 
their  otlicers  being  now  much  better,  with  the  addition  of  several 
from  the  French  service.* 

"  These  material  changes  of  circumstances,  though  perfectly 
known  to  you,  the  King,  at  the  lime  of  his  approbation  given  to 
Nou,  was  wholly  ignorant  of;  but  even  that  ap})robation,  such  as 
it  was,  was  qualified, '  his  Majesty  being  of  opinion  that  a  warm 
diversion  ought  to  be  made  on  the  coasts  of  Massachusetts  Bay  and 
New  Hampshire  ;'  a  wise  precaution,  as  it  is  well  known  that  from 
the  coast  of  New  England  came  a  considerable  part  of  the  army  to 

23 


178  THE     LIFE     OF 

which  General  Burgoyne  became  a  prisoner.  But  this  material 
circumstance  you  entirely  disregarded.  Jersey  was  totally  evacu- 
ated ;  the  Hudson's  River  abandoned ;  the  co-operation  all  at  once 
thrown  out  of  sight,  and  the  Northern  army  left  exposed  to  all  the 
difficulties  of  '  a  wild  uninhabited  country,'  and  opposed  by  the 
whole  force  of  New  England,  unassisted,  while  you  took  a  sea- 
voyage  of  five  weeks  with  your  army.  You  had  not,  therefore, 
the  minister's  approbation,  much  less  his  orders,  for  going  to  Phila- 
delphia, nor  did  you  pursue  the  King's  pleasure,  either  in  the  letter 
or  spirit  of  it. 

"  Your  first  intimation  of  going  to  Philadelphia  by  sea,  and  at 
the  expense  of  evacuating  Jersey,  was  2d  April,  and  was  received 
by  the  minister  the  8th  May.  To  this  you  received  the  King's 
assent,  indeed,  because  it  was  your  plan,  and  because  you  was 
upon  the  spot,  and  his  Majesty  had  confidence  in  your  military 
skill;  but  you  was  told  that  'his  Majesty  trusted  you  would  meditate 
nothing  that  would  prevent  your  co-operation  with  the  army 
from  Canada.^*  This  fundamental  principle  in  the  conduct  of  the 
American  war,  his  Majesty  never  lost  sight  of.  In  the  minister's 
letter  to  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  of  26th  March,  a  copy  of  which  you 
received  before  you  sailed  from  New-York,  it  being  transmitted  to 
you  for  your  direction,  he  says, '  it  is  become  highly  necessary  that 
the  most  speedy  junction  of  the  two  armies  should  be  effected  ;' 
and  in  another  part  of  the  letter  it  is  added,  that '  General  Bur- 
goyne and  Colonel  St.  Leger  must  never  lose  view^  of  their  intended 
junctions  with  Sir  William  Howe,  as  their  principal  object.'  The 
receipt  of  this  letter  you  acknowledged  on  the  5th  July,  and  say 
that  to  the  contents  of  the  different  letters  you  would  '  paj/  due 
regard.' 

"  It  is  astonishing  to  observe,  that  notwithstanding  you  knew 
that  the  junction  of  the  two  armies  was  the  capital  and  lead- 

*  "  The  co-operating  with  the  Northern  army  is  by  no  means  incompatible 
with  the  expedition  to  the  southward,  as  it  must  at  that  time  have  appeared 
to  the  King,  for  a  march  by  land  to  Philadelphia,  in  the  beginning  of  the  cam- 
paign might  have  been  effected,  and  part  of  the  army,  at  least  in  the  latter 
part  of  it,  sent  up  the  Hudson's  River  j  and  it  is  remarkable  that  you  left 
an  opening  for  this  idea  of  your  intention,  by  your  so  frequently  urging  that 
it  could  not  be  till  September  that  General  Burgoyne  could  be  down." 


PETER     VAN     sen  A  AC  K.  ]79 

\n^  part  of  the  wliole  operations, — notwithstanding  you  had  your- 
seli'  upheld  this  principle  in  every  one  of  your  letters,  except 
one  to  which  you  received  no  answer  till  you  was  at  the  head  of 
Klk, — though  you  call  it  the  primary  object  of  the  campaign,  and 
though  you  found  that  the  armies  from  Canada  ])y  way  of  Hud- 
son's River  and  the  Mohawk  were  instructed  to  expect  your  co- 
operation, and  were  regulated  upon  that  principle, — though  you 
had  the  minister's  letter  to  Sir  Guy  Carlcton,  wherein  he  says  that 
*  the  7nost  sycedy  junction  of  the  two  armies  was  absolutely  neces- 
sary,'— yet  in  your  letter  to  the  minister  of  7tli  July,  you  say 
you  do  not  suppose  the  two  armies  could  absolutely  join  in  that 
campaign,  and  you  assign  for  a  reason,  that  '  you  apprehend  Gen- 
eral Burgoyne  would  find  full  employment  for  his  army  against 
that  of  the  rebels  opposed  to  him,'* — the  very  reason  of  all  others 
the  strongest,  why  you  should  have  desisted  from  your  other  Quix- 
otic expedition  to  the  head  of  Elk,  and  have  extended  to  General 
Burgoyne  that  aid  which  you  foresaw  he  would  stand  in  need  of. 
"  I  have  shown,  I  think,  to  a  demonstration,  that  you  never  had 
the  King's  approbation,  much  less  his  orders,  to  undertake  your 
wild  expedition  to  the  southward,  upon  any  possible  construction 
of  the  correspondence  between  you  and  the  minister  ;  that  it  was 
manifestly  contrary  to  his  Majesty's  intention  that  you  should  leave 
the  Northern  and  Western  armies  unassisted,  and  therefore  that 
the  responsibihty  of  all  the  consequences  of  your  conduct  must 
rest  upon  you  ;  unhappy  consequences  indeed, — the  loss  of  a  great 
and  brave  army,  of  a  large  train  of  artillery  and  other  military 
stores,  and  in  its  event,  an  alliance  which  has  involved  this  coun- 
try in  a  foreign  war  !f 


*  "  Notwithstanding  this  opinion,  yet  nine  days  afterwards  you  say  '  that  if 
General  Washington  should  march  with  a  determination  to  force  General 
Burgoyne,  the  strength  of  General  Burgoyne's  army  is  such  as  to  leave  you 
no  room  to  dread  the  event.^  Thus,  after  saying  that  General  B.  would  find 
full  employment  against  the  army  opposed  to  him,  is  he  all  at  once  strong 
enough  to  cope  with  the  whole  force  of  General  W.'s  army  and  the  united 
strength  of  the  whole  New  England  militia,  whose  discipline  and  valor  your 
witnesses  now  so  much  extol.  All  this  "".vas  to  be  effected  by  a  subordinate 
corps,  while  you,  with  three  times  the  number  of  that  corps,  avoided  General 
Washington's  army  alone,  in  an  open  champaign  country." 

t  "  It  was  positively  asserted  by  Mr.  Dempster,  who  was  in  France  upon 


180  THE     LIFE     OF 

"  Never  was  there  a  stranger  phenomenon  exhibited  in  the  an- 
nals of  military  history,  than  your  voyage  to  Chesapeake  Bay ; 
nor  is  it  to  be  accounted  for  upon  any  principle,  but  a  determined 
purpose  to  make  a  sacrifice  of  General  Burgoyne's  army.  Indeed, 
you  have  attempted  to  prove  that  this  manoeuvre  was  the  best 
diversion  in  favor  of  that  army ;  a  proposition  of  which  the  ab- 
surdity is  conspicuous  from  the  bare  state  of  it.  But,  your  business 
was  co-operation,  not  diversion  ;  your  business  was  to  meet  danger, 
not  to  fly  from  it.  Instead  of  which,  with  an  army  of  fifteen  thou- 
sand men,  in  the  season  for  activity  and  service,  you  abandoned 
the  continent,  fled  from  your  enemy,  and  took  a  circuitous  voyage 
of  several  hundred  leagues  in  order  to  arrive  at  a  place  from  which, 
at  the  time  of  embarkation,  you  was  distant  only  about  fifty  miles; 
leaving  such  a  distance  between  you  and  General  Burgoyne,  as 
efTectually  deprived  him  of  all  sort  of  support  from  you.  Thus 
w^as  the  'primary  object  of  the  campaign  devoted  to  a  mere  col- 
lateral one,  which  you  thought  proper  to  substitute  in  its  place. 
Thus,  while  you  was  under  a  necessity  from  the  want  of  reinforce- 
ments to  curtail  your  operations,  you  extended  them,  and  extend- 
ing your  situation  you  call  '  acting  upon  a  smaller  scale.'  Your 
enemy,  who  could  not  suppose  you  guilty  of  such  egregious  folly, 
imagined  you  had  meant  only  to  deceive  them  by  going  to  sea,  and 
expected  you  would  suddenly  move  up  the  Hudson's  River,  and  until 
you  emerged  into  sight  at  the  Delaware,  General  Washington  was 
kept  in  suspense  between  the  Delaware  and  Hudson's  Rivers :  at 
length  you  were  advertised  as  the  '  Skulking  General,'  and  a  re- 
ward offered  for  the  apprehension  of  you,  in  the  Connecticut 
papers. 

"  Your  operations  in  Pennsylvania  are  perfectly  of  a  piece  with 
your  preceding  conduct.  Decision,  which  ought  to  have  been 
your  object,  here  again  you  avoided.  The  action  at  Brandywine 
was  left  unimproved,  and  a  routed  enemy  suffered  to  retreat,  to 
carry  off  their  artillery,  and  without  interruption  to  collect  their 
scattered  force. 

"  The  affair  at  Germantown  must  fix  an  indelible  stain  upon 

the  arrival  of  the  news  of  General  Burgoyne's  surrender,  that  the  French  had 
begun  to  be  tired  of  their  American  connection  till  that  event,  which  fixed 
their  wavering  disposition  into  a  decisive  part  against  this  country." 


PETER      V  A  N      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  ISl 

you.  Though  you  hail  previous  intelligence  (and  military  intelli- 
gence too)  of  the  design,  and  with  such  precision  that  you  acquaint- 
ed Sir  Georije  Osborne,  who  was  on  the  right  flank  of  the  array, 
with  the  exact  time  when  the  attack  would  take  place,  yet  no  pre- 
vious preparations  were  made ;  part  of  your  army  was  surprised, 
and  after  a  handful  of  your  gallant  troops  had  defeated  the  whole 
force  of  the  enemy,  you  suffered  them  again  to  retire  unpursued. 
Fresh  as  your  troops  were,  and  wearied  as  must  have  been  the 
enemy's  after  a  fatiixuinLC  march  in  the  preceding  night,  and  broken 
and  defeated  in  the  action,  yet  they  were  sulTered  to  carry  otfall 
their  artillery. 

"  The  neglect  of  taking  possession  of  Red  Bank  while  it  was 
unoccupied,  and  the  feeble  etFort  against  it  after  the  enemy  possess- 
ed it,  and  the  monstrous  delays  in  the  attack  upon  Muil  Islantl, 
furni«ih  objrcts  for  severe  animadversion,  but  are  too  copious  for  this 
discussion.  Your  march  to  White  Marsh,  however,  cannot  be  passed 
over,  when,  with  an  army  of  fourteen  thousand  veteran  troops,  you 
])roceeiled  to  the  enemy's  front,  where  CJeneral  Washington  showed 
a  disposition  to  receive  your  attack,  (as  he  had  done  before  in  Jer- 
sey,) ami  to  submit  to  that  decision  which  you  ought  to  have 
panted  after.  But  here  you  waiveil  the  trial ;  you  remained  in  the 
enemy's  view,  and  then  shamefully  retreated,  having  no  other 
impression  upon  them  than  a  confidence  in  their  own  strength,  and  no 
other  vestige  cxl"  your  excursion  than  plunder  and  rapine.  Your 
reason  was  that  you  hoped  they  woulil  have  quilted  their  works 
and  attacked  vou.  For  shame,  sir  I  Was  it  (leneral  Washington's 
business  to  attack  you  ?  Was  he  to  quit  an  ailvantageous  position 
to  fii;ht  you  upon  equal  terms  I  If  you  retired,  the  country  re- 
maineil  his  ;  what  knight-errantry,  therefore,  would  it  have  been  in 
liim,  to  leave  his  works  and  to  attack  your  superior  force  !  Fabius 
is  his  well-imitatetl  example  ;  'tis  pity  you  could  not  make  Han- 
nibal's yours.  You  was  in  hopes  he  would  have  been  encouraged 
by  the  reinforcements  lie  had  received  from  the  jyorlhcrn  array. 
You  should  not  without  blushing  mention  that  encourageraent, 
which  had  arisen  from  your  desertion  of  General  Burgoyne's  army, 
and  here,  as  in  other  instances,  you  make  your  crime  your  excuse. 

"  Your  are  now  taking  unwearied  pains  to  detract  from  the 
merit  and  the  numbers  of  the  friends  of  government,  and  you  have 


182  THE     LIFE     OF 

motives  for  urging  this,  since  your  total  neglect  of  them  when 
they  joined  you,  and  your  permission  of  a  genera],  indiscriminate 
plunder,  can  be  palliated  in  no  other  way.  Perhaps  you  reasoned 
as  your  confederates  in  party  have  done,  that  they  merited  no  better 
fate  who  would  not  join  their  countrymen  in  this  cause  ;  but  these 
gentlemen  should  consider,  why  an  American  loyahst  has  not  an 
equal  right  to  his  opinion  with  a  British  patriot,  and  why  to  dissent 
from  pubhc  measures  in  America  is  more  criminal  than  to  oppose 
them  in  Great  Britain.  You  once,  sir,  felt  for  these  unhappy  men, 
whom  you  recommended  to  the  notice  of  government  as  persons 
*  who  had  quitted  the  whole  of  their  property  and  estates ;  some 
of  them  very  considerable  in  value.'  You  have  known  of  numbers 
who,  for  their  loyalty  and  attachment  to  this  country,  have  been 
imprisoned,  banished  and  deprived  of  their  estates  by  confiscation  ; 
of  very  many  who,  endeavoring  to  join  you,  have  been  confined 
in  loathsome  jails,  tried  for  their  lives  and  condemned  to  an  ignomin- 
ious death,  which  several  of  them,  and  some  with  your  commissions 
in  their  pockets,  have  actually  suffered,  without  the  least  interpo- 
sition on  your  part  in  their  favor.  How  could  you  expect  assist- 
ance from  these  people  when  they  were  thus  treated ;  when  you 
marched  into  the  country  only  to  abandon  them  to  the  fury  of  their 
enemies,  and  when  under  your  written  protections  they  were  ex- 
posed to  the  plunder  of  your  army,  and  when  in  this  unequal  con- 
flict the  King's  friends  were  to  suffer  as  traitors,  while  his  enemies, 
whom  you  affected  to  call  rebels,  were  treated  only  as  prisoners  of 
war  ? 

"  The  history  of  your  own  country  might  have  taught  you  how 
difficult  the  situation  is  of  loyalty  under  the  power  of  a  usurper, 
where  the  fear  of  punishment  keeps  every  man  in  awe,  where  every 
word  is  punishable,  where  every  intercourse  of  sentiment  is  a  con- 
spiracy, and  every  act  treason.  And  yet,  under  all  these  discou- 
ragements, who  have  filled  up  your  provincial  corps,  at  several 
times  as  numerous  as  your  enemy's  whole  army,  and  what  has  been 
their  behavior  when  they  were  called  into  action  at  Brandywine, 
at  Fort  Montgomery,  and  at  Pthode  Island,  to  mention  no  other  in- 
stances 1  And  as  to  your  complaint  of  want  of  intelligence,  it  is 
incumbent  on  you  to  point  out  what  enterprises  vou  neglected  to 
make  for  want  of  intelligence,  or  in  what   attempts  you   failed 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  1S3 

throuc^h  false  information.  \Vas  the  destruction  of  the  stores  at 
Danbury  and  Peekskill,  the  taking  of  General  Lee,  tlie  attack  upon 
General  Wayne  by  General  Grey,  etfected  without  intelligence,  or 
is  it  a  proof  that  you  had  no  intelligence  of  the  attack  upon  Ger- 
mantown,  because  you  made  no  preparations  to  receive  it,  and  be- 
caase  part  of  your  army  was  surprised  ? 

"  A  review  of  your  conduct  and  a  detail  of  your  military  trans- 
actionij,  carry  with  them  the  severest  censure;  but  no  part  of  this 
falls  to  the  share  of  your  gallant  troops.  To  your  shame  it  will 
appear,  that  ^Ar^/have  never  made  one  attempt  in  which  they  have 
not  succeeded,  antl  have  never  once  lamented  the  difViculty  of  an 
attack,  but  always  your  backwardness  in  leading  them  to  it. 

"  Had  the  time  of  your  military  inactivity  been  emj)loycd  in 
the  business  and  attention  of  the  statesman,  some  apology  might 
be  made  for  it.  But  in  vain  do  we  inquire  for  the  use  you  maile 
of  the  extensive  powers  you  held,  for  any  system  you  pursued 
to  encoura'^e,  and  thereby  tu  increase  the  numbers  of  the  King's 
friends,  to  conciliate  the  atfections  of  the  well-intentioned,  to  fix  in 
your  favor  the  wavering  and  irreM)lutc,  or  to  reclaim  the  tieluded 
and  misguided.  You  neither  inspired  terror  nor  courted  friendship; 
and  whether  your  conduct  was  more  inglorious  as  a  soldier,  or  in- 
judicious as  a  statesman,  remains  yet  to  be  decided. 

"  Whether  the  conrjuest  of  America  is  or  is  not  now  practica- 
ble, is  a  (juestion,  though  of  the  last  im})ortance,  not  material  in 
this  d.  ll    it  is   { III praclicabley  as  you  now  endeavor    to 

prove,  the  greater  is  your  crime  in  neglectirjg  the  favorable  mo- 
ments when  the  ease  was  otherwise.  To  argue  from  the  j)re.>ent 
actual  slate  (»f  America,  in  justihcalion  of  your  conduct  when  it 
was  in  every  respect  totally  ditferent,  is  a  subterfuge  unworthy  of 
a  canditl  man.  The  degree  of  discipline  they  have  attained  to,  the 
number  of  their  resources,  and  tlie  strength  they  have  accjuired 
from  their  alliance  with  France,  are  to  be  ascribed  solely  to  your 
mismanagement.  The  idea  of  the  comparative  strength  of  this 
country  and  of  America,  which  you  held  in  1775,  seems  now  total- 
ly reversed  ;  for  then  you  concurred  with  General  Burgtjyne,  that 
the  two  hunilred  thousand  nien  which  General  Lee  boasted  Ame- 
rica could  bring  into  the  field,  would  be  no  match  for  the  power  of 
Great  Britain. 


184  THE     LIFE     OF 

"  In  short,  if  America  is  lost  to  this  country,  it  must  be  imputed 
to  you.  The  glorious  opportunities  you  have  omitted  of  putting 
an  end  to  this  destructive  war  may  never  return,  and  the  blood  and 
treasure  which  you  have  so  wantonly  and  profusely  squandered  are 
chargeable  to  you  only.  The  loss  of  General  Burgoyne's  brave 
troops,*  which  has  been  attended  with  such  fatal  consequences,  and 
which  fixed  the  then  wavering  disposition  of  France  in  a  decisive 
part  against  this  country,  is  what  you  must  answer  for  to  this  much 
injured  nation." 

*  "  Gen.  Burgoyne  declared  in  the  House,  that  a  co-operation  would  have 
saved  his  army  ;  and  you  yourself  say  that  '  if  General  Washington's  inten- 
tion should  be  only  to  retard  the  approach  of  General  Burgoyne  to  Albany, 
he  would  soon  find  himself  exposed  to  an  attack  from  New- York  and  from 
Gen.  B.  at  the  same  time  ;  from  both  which  you  flattered  yourself  he  would 
find  it  difficult  to  escape.^  Letter  of  the  16th  July,  1777.  Thus  would  not 
only  Gen.  B.  have  been  saved,  but  even  the  enemy's  principal  army  been  in 
danger  from  your  united  attacks." 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  1S5 


C  II  A  V  T  i:  U    IX. 

A  SUBJECT,  and  one  to  his  niiml  of  paramount  importance,  had 
occupied  Mr.  \  an  Schaack's  anxious  thoughts  in  prospect  of  leav- 
ing his  native  countr}',  and  while  crossing  the  ocean  ; — the  educa- 
tion of  his  three  motherless  chiKlren,  whom  he  was  necessarily 
ohlitred  to  leave  in  the  care  of  his  friends  at  Kinderhook.  The 
paper  which  follows  expresses  his  views  and  wishes  on  this  inter- 
esting subject,  and  seems  to  have  been  "  written  in  New- York  and 
at  sea,  in  October  and  November,  1778." 

••  I  lavinir  some  time  since  made  such  a  disposition  of  my  })roper- 
tv  tnr  the  benefit  of  my  three  infant  children  as  is  agreeable  to  my 
equal  affection  for  them,  I  cannot  help,  before  I  leave  this  coun- 
try, to  express  my  wishes  on  a  subject  of  much  i^reater  concern, 
ami  that  is  their  educatitm.  It  will  be  no  arrogance  to  say,  that  by 
mv  absence  they  will  sustain  an  irreparable  loss: — a  loss  the  more 
severe,  as  they  have  lx?en  deprived  so  early  of  one  of  the  tenderest 
and  best  of  mothers,  whose  (lying  injunctions  I  should  not  have 
failed,  as  far  as  I  could,  to  have  accomplished  towards  them.  I 
(  "lid  ^vi^h  their  education  to  be  as  liberal  as  their  expectations 
wjll  u\  pruilence  jastify  ;  but  I  would  be  understood,  that  much  as  I 
value  learnini;,  1  wouKl  only  have  it  considered  in  connection  with 
virtue  and  moralitv,  and  as  the  handmaiil  to  these  valuable  endow- 
ments, it  is  my  anxious  prayer,  that  this  sentiment  may  be  strongly 
iiupn  ssrd  upon  their  tender  minds. 

"  1  am  not  over  solicitous  al)out  the  particular  professions  which 
may  be  a^signed  to  my  sons,  though  I  could  wish  one  of  them  might 
be  brought  up  to  that  of  the  law,  provided  he  has  genius,  abilities 
and  application  for  the  purpose.  Should  that  take  place,  among 
my  papers  will  be  found  sundry  hints  which  may  be  useful  to  him  ; 
and,  in  my  own  practice,  I  hope  an  example  will  be  found  not 

24 


186  THE     LIFE      OF 

unworthy  of  imitation,  both  with  respect  to  industry  and  integrity. 
To  lay  a  foundation  for  this,  or  any  other  of  the  learned  professions, 
it  w^ill  be  necessary  that  my  boys  have  the  benefit  of  a  good  Latin 
school,  wherein  I  would  have  them  particularly  instructed  in  the 
grammar.  Too  much  pains  in  this  article  cannot  be  taken,  as  the 
defect  of  it  will  render  all  their  acquirements  but  a  useless  super- 
structure, void  of  any  solid  foundation.  They  should  not  leave  their 
grammar  until  they  can  read,  with  ease  and  advantage,  Horace  and 
Tully.  The  translation  of  Latin  into  English  and  vice  versa,  and 
what  is  called  making  Latin,  I  would  wish  them  by  frequent  prac- 
tice to  be  w'ell  versed  in.  I  could  also  wish  that,  in  addition  to  the 
school  and  classical  authors,  they  might  read  Puffendorf  de  officiis 
hominis  et  civis ;  but  then  it  should  be  under  the  direction  of  a 
person,  who  w^ould  by  proper  lectures  and  explanations  make  them 
understand  the  author.  Here,  too,  translations  of  particular  parts 
of  the  book  would  be  of  infinite  service. 

"  Tully's  Offices,  also,  should  by  no  means  be  omitted.  These 
books,  containing  the  foundations  of  the  social  and  moral  duties, 
should  be  thoroughly  understood.  Occasionally,  particular  subjects 
may  be  illustrated  and  enlarged  upon,  by  giving  them  English 
books  upon  the  same  topics. 

"  I  would,  above  all  things,  have  the  principles  of  the  Christian 
religion  inculcated  upon  their  minds ;  and  this  will  open  a  field 
for  the  most  useful  and  instructive  species  of  study.  The  evidence 
by  which  revelation  is  proved,  both  internal  and  external,  they 
should  be  well  acquainted  with,  and  authors  will  be  easily  got  to 
answer  this  purpose. 

"  By  this  time  I  suppose  they  will  have  some  knowledge  of  the 
rules  of  logic ;  which  will  teach  them  the  principles  of  reasoning, 
and  enable  thtra  to  distinguish  between  argument  and  sophism. 
Duncan  and  Watts,  with  a  little  tract  of  Mr.  Locke  entitled  the 
Conduct  of  the  Understanding,  must  be  attentively  read. 

"  The  grand  point  to  be  attended  to,  is  to  acquire  a  habit  of 
attention,  and  to  learn  how  to  think.  Their  tutor  will  know  the 
extent  of  their  abilities,  before  they  can  judge  of  it  themselves.  I 
would  wish  them  to  have  a  confidence  proportioned  to  their  abili- 
ties, neither  arrogant  nor  bashful.  My  daughter's  education  I  am 
not  less  anxious  about,  and  1  do  Hatter  myself  that  she  will  be  under 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  187 


\ 


the  eye  of  some  of  her  female  friends,  who  will  pay  every  attention 
that  my  anxious  heart  can  wish ! 

«  Cove  of  Cork,  2St/i  Xovember,  1778. 

"It  is  my  firm  intention  to  improve  these  imperfect  hints  into 
somethini,^  more  systematical,  when  I  get  to  Enp^land ;  however, 
such  as  they  are,  I  wish  them  to  survive  me,  and  therefore  will  not 
attain  take  them  with  me  to  sea,  where  I  have  suffered  more  than 
I  can  express  on  account  of  the  little  objects  of  my  love,  to  whom 
1  hojK.'  this  will  prove  a  monument  of  my  anxiety  for  their  welfare, 
and  an  incitement  to  application  in  their  studies  and  virtue  in  their 
con()uct.  While  my  heart  overflows  with  tenderness  for  the  dear 
children,  a  thr)usand  ideas  crowd  into  my  mind,  which  have  their 
improvement  and  their  happiness  in  view,  but  these  cannot  now  be 
reduced  into  method, 

"  These,  with  other  papers,  shall  be  left  with  a  friend  at  Cork, 
who  will  preserve  them  in  case  any  accident  should  unfortunately 
haj)pen  to  me. 

"  .May  the  Alini^lity  etTectuate  the  j^ood  intentions  which  have 
dictateti  this  and  every  other  plan  I  have  formed  for  the  benefit  of 
my  children. 

**  PtTER   Va\   S(  haack." 

In  the  prosecution  of  this  plan,  .Mr.  \'an  Schaack,  on  his  arrival 
in  Kn«;land,  and  as  soon  as  he  was  left  a  little  at  leisure,  bv  famil- 
iarity with  the  new  and  engrossinf^  scenes  to  which  he  had  been 
introduceil,  commenced  a  series  of  letters,  which  he  addre^^< d  to 
his  oldest  son.  The  first  seven  of  these  letters  were  probai)lv  not 
transmittal  at  their  dates,*  being  evidently  intended  for  future  use, 
and  when  liis  children,  the  oldeiit  of  whom  was  then  in  his  twelfth 
year,  should  arrive  at  a  suitaljle  age  to  comprehend  their  contents. 
The  residue  were  sent.  Thrse  admirable  compositions  arc  given 
as  ihey  evidently  first  fell  from  the  pen,  antl  with  scarcely  any 
emendations  by  their  author.     They  speak  their  own  praise. 


•   During  the  sninc  jjcriod,  however,  a  niiinber  of  letters  better  adapted  to 
tlic  years  of  bis  corresponduDt,  were  sent  to  America. 


188  THE      LIFE     OF 


TO   HIS   SON. 

London,  13th  December,  1779. 
My  dearest  Harry  : 

My  anxiety  for  your  welfare,  and  that  of  your  dear  little  brother 
and  sister,  accompanies  me  through  all  the  changing  scenes  of 
life,  and  while  it  preys  upon  me,  let  me  endeavor  to  make  it  pro- 
ductive of  some  good  to  you.  When  you  will  receive  this,  is  very 
uncertain  :  if  not  in  my  life-time,  receive  it  as  the  well-meant  exer- 
tions of  your  father,  anxious  that  he  may  be  useful  to  you,  when 
himself  is  no  more  !  The  posthumous  wishes  of  your  best  friend 
will,  I  hope,  touch  your  sensibility,  not  in  unavailing  sorrow  for  his 
loss,  but  to  stimulate  you  to  accomplish  his  wishes  and  endeavors. 
To  your  brother  and  sister  you  must  supply  my  place  ;  and  0  !  my 
dear  Harry,  let  me  beseech  you  to  consider  theirs  and  your  own  as 
one  common  interest,  not  to  be  violated  by  little,  selfish  views. 
Let  integrity  be  your  leading  character,  and  study  to  be  amiable. 

I  have  thrown  upon  paper  some  cursory  thoughts  respecting 
your  education,  which  will  perhaps  admit  of  improvement  in  the 
hands  of  those  who  will  read  them  with  attention.  What  I  chiefl/ 
w^ould  recommend  to  you,  is,  to  learn  how  to  think,  and  to  acquire 
a  habit  of  attention  to  the  subject  you  are  upon,  be  it  what  it  will. 
This  suggests  an  idea  of  what  appears  to  me  to  be  the  chief  and 
fruitful  source  of  the  many  errors  of  education.  Boys'  memories 
are  crowded  and  strained,  while  their  invention  and  their  judg- 
ment are  left  uncultivated  ;  and  I  would  sooner  have  you  gain  one 
idea,  growing  out  of  the  seeds  in  your  own  mind,  than  possess  fifty 
which  are  transplanted  there  from  a  foreign  soil.  However,  at- 
tention and  reflection  will  make  even  the  labors  of  others  your 
own, — that  is,  while  you  read,  you  must  "  mark,  learn  and  in- 
wardly digest."  Read  little,  but  think  much  -,  and  whatever  you 
do  read,  whether  for  amusement  or  instruction,  be  able  to  give  an 
account  of  it.  When  you  have  read  any  book  whatever,  ask  your- 
self. To  what  class  of  authors  does  this  belong  ?  to  which  of  the 
arts  and  sciences,  or  to  what  branch  of  literature  is  this  subject  to 
be  referred  ?  what  is  the  drift  and  design  of  the  author  ?  what  is 
the  scope  of  the  work  ?  what  are  the  doctrines  he  would  inculcate  ? 
by  what  reasonings  does  he  support  his  positions,  and  what  are 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  1S9 

the  beauties  and  excellences  of  the  composition  ?  are  his  argu- 
ments solid,  or  merely  plausible  and  false  ?  in  what  particulars 
do  the  strength  and  force,  or  weakness  and  sophistry  of  them 
consist  ? 

To  these  questions  you  will,  in  process  of  time,  be  able  to  add 
many  of  your  own,  applicable  to  the  particular  subject  your  au- 
thor treats  of  Every  thing  that  helps  you  in  the  investigation  of 
one  case,  or  enables  you  to  remove  some  impediment  that  was  in 
your  way  in  another,  you  must  remark  and  set  down  in  writing, 
liy  an  inductl^ni  of  several  particulars  in  this  wav,  you  will  be 
enabled  to  form  some  general  rules  for  the  government  of  your 
own  mind,  which  will  be  of  more  service  to  you  than  all  the  di- 
rections of  others. 

Another  hint  you  will  find  very  useful  :  after  you  have  read 
any  treatise,  from  your  memory  concisely  write  down  what  you 
conceive  to  be  th-  •  fice  and  principal  matters  of  it.  This  will 
fix  it  in  your  miinl  ;  then  write  down  your  own  thoughts  on  the 
subject,  and  state  your  objections,  or  aild  any  arguments  or  illus- 
trations which  may  occur  to  your  own  mind.  Do  not  be  discou- 
I  aired  at  thr  dilliculties  which  at  first  will  stand  in  your  way  ; — 
t'very  subject  will  at  first  appear  confused  ; — but  persevere  and  de- 
]i<'nd  upon  success. 

When  you  first  look  at  a  map  of  a  country,  you  arc  lost  in  the 
variety  of  objects;  after  a  httle  inspection,  you  discover  some  one 
more  striking  than  the  rest  ;  this  is  perhaps  some  capital  city  ;  you 
then  descend  to  others  of  an  inferior  kind,  and  at  last  become  ac- 
(juainted  with  tlu-  smallest  and  minutest  parts  of  it.  So  it  is  with 
almost  every'  subjt  1 1  ;  there  is  a  primary'  object,  an»l  there  are 
others  of  a  sul)or(hnate  and  coHateral  kind.  'J'hiU,  inch-ed,  is  to  be 
principally  attended  to,  but  these  are  not  to  be  neglected. 

If  you  do  not  like  what  you  have  written,  destroy  it  again  and 
again,  and  do  not  damp  your  endeavors  by  too  great  timidity  of 
your  talents.  Remember  that  tlie  greatest  works  have  arisen 
from  the  smallest  Ix'ginnings ;  but  this  is  not  done  in  a  day.  Rome, 
the  mistress  of  the  world,  was  founded  by  a  few  shepherds  and  va- 
.;rants ; — the  greatest  literary  productions  have  proceeded  from 
those  who  in  youth  were  deemed  blockheads. 

It  will  be  of  infinite  use  to  take  some  particular  subject,  and 


190  THE     LIFE      OF 

make  yourself  thoroughly  master  of  it.  Consider  it  maturely ; 
read  every  thing  relative  to  it,  and  when  you  have  compassed  it, 
recollect  the  means  that  aided  you,  and  the  difficulties  which  im- 
peded your  understanding  it.  Talking  it  over  with  a  companion, 
stating  your  conceptions  of  it,  and  hearing  objections,  will  be  of 
great  use.  Questions  of  difficulty  should  be  often  discussed ; — 
these  will  teach  you  how  much  truth  and  falsehood  are  mixed  to- 
gether;— how  nearly  certain  vices  and  virtues  border  on  each 
other,  and  how  arduous  a  task  it  is  to  separate  them  in  many  cases. 
As  you  should  aim  at  truth,  not  victory,  in  your  arguments,  be  not 
ashamed  to  be  confuted;  however,  that  your  side  of  the  question 
may  not  lose  the  justice  you  owe  to  it,  study  to  acquire  a  ^presence 
of  mind,  which  may  give  you  the  full  benefit  of  your  understand- 
ing. Compare  one  instance  wherein  you  was  confused  and  asham- 
ed, with  another  wherein  you  was  easy  and  composed,  and  you  will 
feel  what  advantage  you  had  from  self-possession^  or  lost  for  want 
of  it.  My  dearest  Harry ! — the  above  rules,  if  w^ell  attended  to, 
however  un ornamented,  will  give  you  great  advantage. 

When  you  have  learned  the  full  extent  of  your  own  abilities, 
and  have  distinguished  to  what  subjects  you  are  competent,  and  to 
which  you  are  incompetent,  you  will  then  know  when  to  speak, 
and  when  to  be  silent.  But  when  you  speak,  let  it  be  with  mod- 
esty, and  deference ; — suaviter  in  modo,  fortiter  in  re,  is  a  rule  of 
great  use  if  rightly  considered.  Read  Lord  Chesterfield's  disserta- 
tion on  it,  in  one  of  his  letters  to  his  son. 

I  do  not  pretend  to  ascertain  at  what  particular  period  the 
above  hints  may  respectively  be  best  improved.  The  mind  opens 
itself  at  different  ages  in  different  persons  ;  nor  is  it  always  an  ar- 
gument against  the  strength  of  genius,  that  it  does  not  unfold  itself 
and  expand  early.  The  culture  is  more  frequently  faulty  than  the 
soil.  To  understand  the  strength  of  the  one,  and  adapt  the  other 
to  it,  requires  judgment  and  care,  and  I  hope  you  will  be  under  the 
direction  of  those,  who  will  be  able  to  apply  these  rules  and  sug- 
gest others  which  will  promote  your  knowledge.  But,  in  all  your 
attainments,  remember,  my  dear  son,  that  the  greatest  excellence  of 
learning  consists  in  its  subservience  to  virtue;  and  when  otherwise 
employed,  (which  Heaven  avert  from  you  !)  it  will  only  increase 
your  condemnation.     It  may  possibly  give  you  fame,  but  never  can 


PETER      VAN      SCHAALK.  191 

procure  you  esteem.     Adieu,  my  dearest  Harry,  and  believe  me 
ever  yours.  

TO  HIS  SOX. 

London,  I4th  December,  1779. 
My  dearest  Harry  : 

You  must  not  tliink  it  strancjc,  that  you  ^vill  tind  me  repeat  so 
often  ray  wish  that  you  will  use  your  utmost  endeavor  to  acijuire  a 
fuibii  of  attention.  This  cannot  be  too  much  inculcated  ;  in 
your  most  trivial  pursuits,  and  in  your  readini^  lor  amusement 
merely,  lay  it  not  aside.  Another  rule  which  you  will  fuid  extreme- 
ly useful,  is,  never  to  attempt  doinc^  two  things  at  once,  or  doing 
one  thing  and  at  the  same  time  thinking  of  another. 

In  order  to  give  you  a  taste  for  the  excellences  o{  writers,  and 
a  fondness  for  reading,  you  should  early  look  into  some  treatise  on 
rhetoric.  This  will  furnish  you  wilh  general  Ijcads,  under  which 
you  may  yourself  reduce  particular  pa  in  authors',  the  beauty 

of  which  may  attract  your  notict .  1  wmild  have  you  get  by  heart 
some  pieces  out  of  authors  of  distingui>hed  reputation;  this  will 
strengthen  your  meinor)',  and  the  more  deeply  impress  their  beau- 
ties on  )our  minil.  You  will  find  a  collection  of  these  in  the 
I'lJi'ceptor. 

1  hope  you  will  be  fond  of  the  Spectator,  particularly  the  papers 
under  the  signatures  of  the  letters  C  L.  I.  (). ;  those  being  the 
j)roduction  of  that  excellent  man,  Mr.  Addison.  They  will,  I 
am  confident,  remain  the  standard  of  purity  in  stvle,  as  long  as  the 
English  l.mguiige  exists.  I  have  no  objection  to  vour  sometimes 
reading  a  novel,  or  a  play,  which,  if  well  chosen,  afford  an  agree- 
able anil  rational  amu^-emeiit.  You  will  see  the  human  mind  there 
dehneated  in  the  strongest  colors,  and  will  observe  some  characters 
which  you  oui^ht  to  be  as  anxious  to  imitate,  as  you  will  Ik-  to 
detest  and  shun  others.  You  will  have  some  idea  of  the  scenes 
which  are  exhibitt'd  in  the  great  world,  and  be  able  to  form  useful 
lessons,  to  guard  you  against  the  arts  and  fraud  which  are  prac- 
tiNed  in  it.  You  will  scarce  read  of  any  one  species  of  villainy, 
which  is  not  every  dav  carrietl  on  in  the  city  of  London  alone. 
Should   vour  destinv  ever  lead  vou  here, — I  almost  shudder  at  the 

•  •  • 

thoiirrht, — let  me  entreat  you  to  come  armed  against  the  greatest 
dangers,  the  slrongei>t  temptations  !     But  more  of  this  hereailer. 


192  THE     LIFE     OF 

Adieu,  dearest  Harry !  may  you  be  happy,  prays  your  most 
affeciionate  friend,  

TO  HIS  SON. 

True  wisdom  is  so  inseparably  connected  with  virtue,  that 
while  I  have  been  endeavoring  to  assist  you  in  the  improvement  of 
your  mind,  I  hope  I  have  laid  a  foundation  for  bettering  your 
heart.  Yet  you  will  see  instances,  my  dear  son,  of  persons  endued 
with  great  talents  and  of  extensive  acquired  abilities,  who  have 
receded  from  virtue  in  proportion  as  they  have  advanced  in  science. 
But  their  condemnation  will  be  the  greater;  and  let  me  conjure 
you  not  to  be  dazzled  by  the  false  glare  of  these  ignes  fatui. 
They  shine  but  to  mislead  and  destroy.  Would  you  see  how 
lovely  is  the  union  of  great  talents  and  great  learning  with  virtue 
and  religion,  look  to  Locke,  Newton,  and  Boyle,  among  other 
worthies  which  this  country  has  produced.  Let  these,  and  such  as 
these,  be  the  objects  of  your  love,  your  admiration  and  your 
imitation. 

As  I  have  inculcated  the  utility  of  being  well  acquainted  with 
the  force  of  your  own  mind,  and  the  extent  of  your  abilities,  so  I 
would  have  you  pursue  the  maxim — nosce  te  ipsiim — with  respect 
to  the  disposition  of  your  heart.  Find  out  what  are  its  evil  pro- 
pensities, and  which  of  the  passions  is  the  ruhng  one  in  your  own 
breast.  When  you  have  made  the  discovery,  be  unwearied  in  sub- 
duing these,  as  the  most  fatal  enemies  you  can  have  to  contend 
with.  Read  the  best  writers,  religious  and  moral,  upon  the  subject ; 
compare  the  vices  you  are  disposed  to  follow  with  their  opposite 
virtues,  and  persevere  in  your  struggles  to  cultivate  the  one  and 
overcome  the  others.  The  greatest  characters  have  felt  the  frailties 
of  human  nature,  and  Socrates  himself  (the  almost  divine  Socrates) 
owned,  that  he  was  naturally  addicted  to  the  most  flagitious  pas- 
sions ;  yet  he  overcame  his  vicious  propensities  by  the  dint  of 
philosophy,  independent  of  those  superior  aids  which  Christianity 
affords  ;  aids  which,  when  used,  facilitate  the  conquest,  but  when 
neglected,  increase  the  guilt. 

I  would  have  your  improvements  in  virtue  accompanied  with 
the  cultivation  of  your  talents ;  let  me  therefore  close  this  letter 
with  advising  you  to  think  deeply  upon  the  subjects  you  take  in 


PETER     VAN     S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  193 

hand.  Revolve  them  over  and  over  in  vour  own  mind.  Di^-est 
your  sentiments  thoroughly,  reduce  them  to  writing,  put  them  in 
various  points  of  light,  and  converse  upon  them  ;  than  which 
nothing  will  more  help  to  make  you  completely  master  of  them. 

I  would  recommend  to  you  to  have  a  common-place  book, 
wherein,  under  general  heads,  properly  arranged,  you  may  set 
down  such  passages  as  more  particularly  strike  you  ;  but  if  vou 
cannot  at  first  please  yourself,  and  find  some  of  your  companions 
rather  more  forward  than  you  are,  do  not  be  discouraged  :  vou 
may  congratulate  yourself,  if  you  find  in  the  subsequent  year  that 
you  can  correct  what  you  have  done  in  the  precechncj ;  and  you 
should  choose  to  associate  with  such  as  are  your  superiors, — for 
in  the  conjpany  of  such  you  will  receive  instruction. 

I  would  advise  you  early  to  enter  into  epistolary  correspond- 
ences ;  they  will  improve  your  thinking,  and  enable  you  to  express 
vourself  with  ease.  Pope's  Letters,  Clarissa  Ilarlowe,  Sir  Charles 
Cirandison,  are  among  those  which  at  jueNcnt  occur  tome;  the 
two  last,  also,  will  be  entertain:  -  novels.  \Vh« n  I  sj)eak  of 
Pope,  I  hardly  know  which  of  ins  works  most  to  admire;  they 
merit  an  eulogium  whii  h  my  pen  is  incompetent  to.  Ili>  Iksay  on 
Man  and  his  Moral  Kpistles  should  be  read  over  and  over  again. 
Uecies  rcpditu  placthiL 

I  give  you  miscellaneous  thoughts,  rather  than  a  regular  system, 
though  1  hope  to  have  lime  to  methodize  and  correct  them.  As 
they  come  from  me,  you  will  revolve  them  in  your  rnind,  and 
depend  upon  it,  at  one  time  or  another,  you  will  experience  their 
usi'fulness  to  tlie  great  objects  I  have  in  vir-w — your  advancrmerjt 
in  learning  and  improvement  in  virtue.  I  have  given  you  outlines 
on  whi(  h  I  sliall  separately  descant  at  large  liereafter.  Adieu,  my 
dear  boy,  and  accept  what  I  write  as  the  overflowings  of  a  heart 
devoted  to  you  and  your  dear  little  brother  and  sister,  who  will 
receive  these  my  endeavors,  I  hope,  largely  improved  through  your 
hands.  

TO  HIS  SON. 

lyondon,  22d  December,  1779. 
My  DKAUtisr  Hakkv  : 

I  long  exceedingly  to  hear  of  your  having  entered  upon  your 

25 


19  1:  THELIFEOF 

Latin,  uiider  the  care  of  a  good  tutor,  and  a  man  of  ap;reeable 
manners,  who  will  adapt  his  treatment  of  you  to  the  disposition 
nature  has  given  you.  Many  a  good  genius  is  damped  by  undue 
severity,  and  a  pleasing  modesty  by  the  ill-judged  behavior  ot 
an  austere  master,  degenerates  into  an  awkward  bashfulness. 

On  this  subject,  my  dear  boy,  I  could  mention  some  particulars 
respecting  myself.  My  tutor,  by  a  warmth  of  temper  and  an 
unreasonable  impatience  when  I  hesitated,  which  frequently  hap- 
pened from  the  influence  of  a  native  diffidence,  would  throw  me 
into  confusion,  so  that  I  really  lost  the  use  of  my  recollection  and 
my  presence  of  mind,  and  instead  of  giving  me  time  to  recover 
myself,  he  would  insist  on  my  answering  questions  sometimes  of  an 
intricate  nature.  I  became  possessed  of  an  idea  that  my  talents 
were  defective,  and  that  I  was  not  designed  by  nature  to  pursue 
the  paths  of  science :  I  therefore  urged  your  honored  grandfather, 
who  entertained  all  the  partiality  of  parental  fondness  for  me,  to 
permit  me  to  leave  my  books,  and  to  indulge  me  in  my  wishes  of 
going  into  the  army.  To  this  he  was  utterly  averse ;  and  from 
respect  to  him,  as  well  as  from  a  discovery  I  made,  that  though 
my  tutor  behaved  to  me  as  if  I  was  a  blockhead,  yet  in  my  absence 
he  expressed  himself  favorably  of  me,  I  persevered,  and  soon  found 
myself  advanced  in  my  learning  far  beyond  my  own  most  flattering 
expectations. 

While  I  wish  by  this  example,  my  dear  Harry,  to  save  you 
from  an  improper  distrust  of  your  own  abilities,  it  would  defeat  my 
well-meant  purpose,  if  it  made  you  over-ready  to  lay  blame  on 
those  who  have  the  care  of  your  education.  Arrogance  is  a  rock 
you  should  as  carefully  avoid,  as  the  opposite  extreme  of  bashful- 
ness. Indeed,  if  the  choice  must  lie  between  these  extremes,  (but 
I  hope  for  better  things  from  you,)  I  should  least  dislike  the  last. 
Meanwhile,  let  me  indulge  the  fond  wish  that  you  will  know  how 
to  'profit  by  this  liltle  incident  in  the  early  part  of  my  life.  It  will, 
I  am  sure,  receive  the  more  attention  from  you,  as  it  relates  imme- 
diately to  your  father,  who  is  ready  to  draw  ofl^the  veil  even  from 
his  own  failings,  if  thereby  he  can  promote  your  welfare. 

Indeed,  my  dear,  the  advancement  in  life  of  you  and  of  your 
brother  and  sister,  (and  by  this  advancement  I  mean  not  the  accu- 
mulation of  wealth,  but  the  improvement  of  your  minds  and  of 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  195 

your  hearts  in  virtue  and  knowledge,)  is  now  the  great,  almost  the 
only  view  I  have  in  the  world.  A  series  of  untoward  events  have 
dissipated  all  my  prospects  in  life  !  It  shall  now  be  my  effort  to 
make  you^  what  once  too  sangiiinely  my  triends  hoped  I  would 
have  been  mvself.  You,  I  hope,  will  live  to  see  belter  days  ;  and 
I  beseech  you  not  to  indulge  any  resentment  for  what  I  have  sulFer- 
ed  in  the  unhappy  civil  wars  which  have  distracted  our  country. 
In  such  scenes,  distress  is  a  common  lot.  But  I  wish  you  to  be 
well  acquainted  with  the  origin  and  the  liistory  of  this  great  con- 
test, which  will  make  an  era  not  only  in  the  annals  of  our  own 
country,  but  of  Europe,  and  perhaps,  in  its  consequences,  of  every 
quarter  of  the  globe.  Study  it  therefore  attentively  ;  not  with  the 
heat  of  a  bigot,  but  dispassionately,  like  a  jihilosoplier.  SutftT 
not  yourself  to  be  warp»d  even  by  my  conduct  or  sentiments  rela- 
tive to  it.     Hear  all, — jud'^e  for  your^^elf. 

Some  such  observations  as  these  will  probably  at  limes  occur 
to  you  :  how  strani^e  is  it,  that  men  of  equal  degrees  of  understanil- 
ing,  of  equally  enlarijed  and  liberal  minds,  who  have  been  educated 
in  th«*  same  schools,  and  in  the  same  general  j)rinciples  of  govern- 
merjt,  whose  cliaracters  were  equally  fair  ami  unblemished,  and  who 
had  actually  the  same  identical  interest  and  the  same  object,  the  wel- 
fare of  their  country, — that  men  so  situated,  and  moreover  intimately 
connected  by  the  strongest  bonds  of  friendship,  should  have  taken 
opposite  sides  in  this  great  cause!  I  n;ention  not  names;  but 
\()U  will  fmd  that  these  observations  are  not  fanciful,  but  have 
arisen  from  facts,  and  have  been  instanced  in  characters  which  will 
be  made  known  to  you.  These  considerations,  I  hope,  will  tiach 
you  moderation,  candor,  liberality  and  charity  in  the  judgment  you 
jniss  upon  the  conduct  of  others,  llemember,  my  dear,  both  in 
religion  and  politics,  that  you  have  only  your  own  opinion  that 
vou  are  right  ;  this  indeed  is  the  stronge^^t  guide  for  your  own 
conduct,  but  not  for  ethers.  But,  I  desist :  I  meant  not  in  this 
place  to  have  touched  a  subject,  though  very  near  my  heart, 
which  I  have  elsewhere  been  more  explicit  upon.  However,  I 
confine  not  myself  to  any  particular  method  ;  I  give  you  my 
thoughts  as  they  arise,  and  leave  to  you  to  arrange  them  more 
methodically,  both  for  your  own  use,  and  those  of  the  little  ones, 
to  whom  you  w  ill,  I  hope,  supply  the  place  of  their  parents.     Only 


196  THE     LIFE     OF 

be  assured,  (and  I  have  pleasure  in  the  repetition,)  that  all  my 
labors  have  for  their  object,  the  dear  pledges  left  me  by  one, 
Avho  is  now,  I  doubt  not,  among  the  saints  in  Heaven  !  and  that 
in  every  wish  I  express  for  your  welfare,  I  transcribe  the  charac- 
ters most  strongly  written  on  my  heart,  and  particularly  when  I 
pray  that  the  Almighty  will  take  you  under  his  protection  and 
make  you  a  good  man  ! 

Yours  affectionately, 


TO  HIS  SON. 

London,  11th  January,  1780. 
I  have  in  my  former  letters  told  you,  that  I  should  wish  you 
to  read  some  well  selected  novels,  and  in  my  recommendation  to 
you  of  the  utility  of  an  early  epistolary  correspondence,  I  have 
mentioned  two  productions  of  the  benevolent  Richardson — Clarissa 
Harlowe  and  Sir  Charles  Grandison.  But  the  excellence  of  these 
works  is  not  confined  to  the  entertainment  afforded  by  a  pleasing 
narrative,  or  to  the  easy  flow  of  language  and  familiarity  of  ex- 
pression, so  ornamental  to  epistolary  waitings  :  you  must  consider 
them  as  calculated  to  promote  the  interests  of  religion,  virtue  and 
true  honor  ;  not  indeed  in  the  systematic  way  of  the  mere  moralist, 
but  in  a  manner  more  attractive  to  a  young  mind,  by  exemplifying 
and  bringing  them  into  action,  in  various  incidents  of  life.  It  is  a 
trite  objection  to  those  two  works,  (but  leading,  that  I  know  of,  to 
no  one  good  purpose,)  that  they  hold  up  characters  too  perfect  for  hu- 
man nature,  and  useless,  as  they  are  above  the  reach  of  imitation. 
As  well  might  w^e  condemn  every  system,  even  the  most  perfect, 
because  men  do  not  act  up  to  the  standard  of  it.  But  does  it  in- 
culcate virtue  ?  does  it  dissuade  or  deter  from  vice  ?  are  the  material 
questions,  which  every  man  must  answer  in  the  affirmative. 

I  will  not  discuss  the  subject,  whether  human  nature  is  or  is 
not  capable  of  the  attainments  mentioned  in  those  works,  or  of  the 
virtues  there  delineated.  It  must  be  a  mere  abstract  question  :  it 
does  not  fall  to  the  common  lot  to  have  the  same  opportunities, 
the  same  occasions,  the  same  trials ;  but  if  it  did,  and  the  bulk  of 
men  and  women  should,  as  they  undoubtedly  would,  fall  short  of 
those  models,  who  can  tell  but  there  would  be  some  who  would 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  197 

come  up  to  them  ?  Many  a  virtuous  character,  my  dear  Harry, 
languishes  in  obscurity,  which,  if  called  forth  into  action,  would 
rise  to  \ery  high  attainments,  which,  for  want  of  the  opportunity, 
are  supposed  not  to  exist.  Vicious  ones  indeed  there  are,  too, 
which  for  want  of  like  opportunity,  betray  not  their  malignit)*, 
though,  unfortunately,  (such  is  the  state  of  the  world,)  imagina- 
tion can  hardly  draw  a  portrait  so  odious,  of  which  the  original 
may  not,  iii  every  man's  experience,  be  produceil.  Here,  there- 
ibie,  the  satirist  has  the  advantaiie  over  the  panecrvrist. 

But,  though  all  the  incidents,  various  as  they  are  represented, 
can  be  supposed  to  happen  to  ver)'  few,  if  to  any  one,  yet  some, 
if  not  many  of  them,  may  occur  very  frequently  in  life ;  and  not 
knowing  which  may  fall  to  the  lot  of  particular  persons,  who  arc 
yet  liable  to  all  of  thera,  surely  it  is  highly  useful  to  know,  how  a 
really  good  man  m/frht  to  act  under  those  circumstances,  and  how 
a  bad  one  probably  intuld.  The  parent  who  puts  into  his  child's 
l,;intl  S.  [|.  (  iTs  Morals,  will  hardly  expect  him  to  exem])lify  evcri/ 
]irecept  there  inculcated  ;  but  he  will  not  for  that  reason  condemn 
the  moralist,  or  think  his  labors  unusetul.  Kven  from  particular 
incidents  which  may  never  happen  to  tis,  genrral  rules  may  be 
educed  to  guide  us  through  those  scenes  that  we  may  be  called 
forth  to  act  in.  Even  those  parts  of  this  work  which  are  sup- 
])0sed  to  be  too  prolix  as  to  trivial  matters,  will  be  useful  to  young 
minds,  and  will  teach  them  a  delicacy  of  sentimmt,  as  well  as  an 
c;ist'  and  fluency  of  exp  :i  in  the  common  occurrences  of  life. 

I'pon  the  whole,  I  have  read  those  books  with  infinite  satisfac- 
tion, and  warmly  recommend  them  to  your  perusal,  and  to  your 
attention  ;  nor  havr  1  h-  ;ird  one  objection  to  them  of  any  weight, 
except  (which  was  from  a  young  lady)  that  in  the  character  of 
Lovelace,  the  vicious  man  was  drawn  in  colors  too  aE^reeable. 
But  remember  that  a  vicious  man,  with  all  the  advantages  of  shi- 
ning talents  and  brilliant  improvements — with  all  the  exterior  or- 
naments of  person,  rank,  address  and  fortune — is  still  a  monster, 
and,  thus  accomplished,  is  for  those  very  reasons  the  more  to  be 
abhorred!  How  would  a  Sir  Charles  Grandison,  how  would  a 
(Clarissa  have  acted  in  this  ca^e  ? — will  be  a  question  every  man 
and  woman  should  put  to  iheniNelves,  in  every  difikult  scene  of  life. 


198  THE     LIFE     OF 

By  the  answer,  (and  let  it  be  a  candid  one,)  should  they  regulate 
their  conduct.     INIay  this  be  the  case  of  those  I  love  ! 

Since  writing  the  above,  I  have  read  a  poem  called  an  Elegy, 
written  in  a  country  church-yard,  by  Mr.  Gray  ;  where  the  idea 
aimed  at  in  one  of  the  above  paragraphs  is  beautifully  touched. 
Read  it  through — but  what  I  allude  to  begins : 

"  Perhaps  in  tUis  neglected  spot  is  laid, 
Some  heart  once  pregnant  with  celestial  fire, 
Hands  that  the  rod  of  empire  might  have  sway'd, 
Or  wak'd  to  ecstacy  the  living  lyre. 

"  But  knowledge  to  their  eyes  her  ample  page, 
Rich  with  the  spoils  of  time,  did  ne'er  unroll  j 
Chill  penury  repressed  their  noble  rage, 
And  froze  the  genial  current  of  the  soul." 

Were  I  to  hint  at  the  instances  in  which  those  excellent  novels 
may  be  useful,  I  should  mention,  among  others,  the  following : 

1.  The  sentiments  of  religion  and  morality,  of  true  honor  and 
integrity,  of  modesty,  decorum  and  delicacy,  which  are  inculcated 
in  them. 

2.  The  application  of  them  to  occasions,  of  which  many  may, 
and  some  of  them  must  happen  to  us. 

3.  The  model  exhibited  in  them  of  easy,  cheerful  and  innocent 
epistolary  correspondences,  equally  calculated  to  improve  the  mind 
and  meliorate  the  heart.  The  story  so  interesting,  the  incidents  so 
humorous,  the  characters  so  various. 

4.  The  narrative,  so  good  a  guide  to  help  us  in  relating  com- 
mon, as  well  as  unusual  occurrences. 

5.  The  dialogue,  so  improving,  if  well  attended  to,  in  enabling 
us  to  uphold  familiar  and  friendly,  or  serious  and  disputable  con- 
versations, and  to  carry  on  with  becoming  spirit  debates  and  argu- 
ments, upon  subjects  of  right  and  w^rong,  and  upon  points  of  honor. 

6.  The  agreeable  and  pertinent  allusions. 

7.  The  advantages,  the  happiness  oi family  harmony!  and 
the  miseries  of  disunion  ;  selfishness  and  want  of  affection  amongst 
those  of  the  same  household  !  I 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  199 

8.  The  excellence  and  purity  of  the  style. 

9.  Tlie  insidious  arts  practised  by  the  abandoned  and  vicious 
of  both  sexes,  and  the  snares  and  dangers  to  which  youth  and  inex- 
perience are  exposed,  with  the  miseries  that  follow  a  departure,  or 
deviation  from  the  paths  of  virtue  and  honor;  and  in  this  respect, 

10.  The  knowledge  of  the  icorld  to  be  gathered  from  these 
books  ;  a  knowledge  acquired  without  the  experience  for  which 
numbers  of  poor  wretches  pay  so  dear !  

TO  HIS  SOX. 

London^  20(h  January^  17S0. 
In  tlie  liints  I  have  given  for  your  education,  ami  for  the  im- 
provement of  your  mind,  I  have  occasionally  remarked  that  /c«r/i- 
//jif,  with  a  view  to  its  principal  end,  ought  to  be  considered  as  tlie 
liandmaid  to  virtue.  In  other  re>pects  it  may  be  ornamental,  but 
cannot  be  said  to  be  useful.  W  bile  I  endeavor  to  cultivate  ami 
enlarge  your  understanding,  I  mean  thereby  to  enable  you  the  more 
distinctly  to  see  your  duty,  am!  the  more  ardently  to  pursue  it.  Of 
all  the  objt^cts  of  this  duty,  you  must  be  sensible  that  the  first  and 
greatest  is  your  Creator — "  in  whom  you  live,  and  move,  and  have 
your  being."  The  dilfcrent  branches  of  which  this  great  iluty 
consists,  and  the  occasions  ami  manner  in  whii  h  it  is  to  be  per- 
foruicd,  are  comprtht'ndfd  umlcr  the  name  of  religion. 

Young  as  you  arr,  I  do  flatter  myself  that  the  principles  yuu 
have  imbibed,  my  dearest  Harry,  umlcr  the  instruction  of  your  ex- 
cellent mother,  (who  should  ever  be  before  you  as  an  example  !) 
are  not,  nor  ever  will  be  eradicated.  These  impressions  will  dis- 
pose vou  to  practise;  but  as  your  mind  exj)ands, I  wish  you  to  t.ikc 
a  comprehensive  view  of  this  great  and  most  important  subject. 
To  descend  to  particulars  now,  would  carry  me  far  beyond  the 
limits  I  have  prescribed  io  myself  in  these  letters.  Let  me  only 
call  your  attention  to  the  Ibllowing  points: 

1.  You  should  ftdly  investigate  aud  establish  in  your  belief,  as 
the  first  article  of  it,  that  there  is  a  God  ;  for  this  you  need  but 
open  your  eyes  and  ears,  for  all  nature  proclaims  it  aloud  through 
all  her  works. 

2.  You  should  consider  his  attributes— his  power,  wisdom,  jus- 
lice  and  mercy. 


200  THELIFEOF 

3.  That  as  he  is  the  Creator,  so  is  he  the  Preserver  and  Gov- 
ernor of  the  world  ;  and  this  \vill  carry  you  into  the  doctrine  of 
providenc  e. 

4.  That  his  preserving  and  governing  power  is  directed  by  cer- 
tain laws  and  regulations,  some  relating  to  the  inanimate  part  of 
the  creation,  others  to  brutes,  and  others  to  man. 

5.  That  man  being  a  creature  endued  with  reason,  is  bound  to 
investigate  the  laws  of  his  Maker  relating  to  him,  and  to  conform 
his  actions  to  them ;  that  he  is  therefore  accountable  for  his  con- 
duct, and  that  he  will  be  punished,  or  rewarded,  according  to  the 
measure  of  his  obedience  or  transgression  of  those  laws. 

6.  But  as  no  creature  can  be  punished  for  his  disobedience  of 
a  law  with  which  he  is  unacquainted,  God  has  made  his  will,  with 
respect  to  mankind,  known. 

7.  That  this  will  is  twofold,  (as  to  the  manner  of  communicat- 
ing it,)  viz.  1,  natural;  2,  revealed.  The  first  is  called ?ia^wra/  re- 
ligion, because  we  are  capable  of  attaining  the  knowledge  of  it 
by  the  light  of  nature,  or  by  the  exercise  of  reason  merely ;  the 
second  is  called  revealed  religion,  because  it  is  made  known  to  us 
by  an  immediate  revelation  from  God,  and  because,  though  it  co- 
incides with  the  former  as  far  as  that  extends,  yet  it  contains  some 
articles  out  of  the  reach  of  mere  unassisted  reason. 

8.  Mankind  are  generally  agreed  in  the  principles  of  the  former, 
but  the  latter  has  been  the  subject  of  much  controversy,  from  the 
cavils  of  unbelievers,  who  have  boldly  denied  the  Divine  authority 
of  the  Scriptures,  notwithstanding  the  convincing  evidence  by  which 
it  is  supported. 

9.  This  evidence  is  divided  into  1,  internal ;  2,  external.  Un- 
der the  first  head  is  proved  the  excellency  of  the  Scriptures  consid- 
ered in  themselves  ;  the  conformity  of  its  rules  and  precepts  to  the 
principles  of  natural  religion  and  morality,  and  to  the  various  rela- 
tions we  stand  in  to  God,  to  ourselves  and  to  our  neighbors,  and 
the  comfortable  hopes  which  it  affords  us  under  all  the  calamities 
of  this  world,  and  of  a  happy  immortality  in  consequence  of  a 
w^ell-spent  life;  in  this  respect  it  is  justly  contended,  that  the  Scrip- 
tures have  infinitely  the  advantage  over  all  other  systems,  which, 
while  they  leave  us  exposed  to  the  miseries  of  life,  give  us  no  ra- 
tional plan  of  futurity,  wherein  to  ground  hope  or  consolation. 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  201 

Under  the  second  head  are  adduced  the  solid  proofs  arising  from 
prophecy  and  miracles,  with  which  the  Scriptures  are  supported. 

These  topics  will  bring  you  to  an  acquaintance  with  the  most 
celebrated  writers  of  this  country,  or  of  the  world,  among  whom 
let  me  mention  a  Ix^cke,  Boyle  and  Sherlock. 

After  you  have  thoroughly  settled  your  principles  upon  these 
subjects,  and  others  connected  with  them,  vou  will  read  with 
greater  pleasure  the  sacred  writings;  and  I  would  more  especially 
recommend  to  your  frequent  study,  the  four  Gospels  and  the  Acts 
of  the  Apostlc-s  ;  indeed,  I  hope  you  will  be  well  conversant  in 
them,  before  you  are  capable  of  unden^tanding  what  I  have  now 
written  for  your  use. 

I  cannot  help  repeating  what  I  liave  once  before  observed,  that 
the  theological  writers,  if  well  chosen,  and  more  t-specially  those 
upon  the  evidences  of  religion,  will  be  of  infinite  use  to  you  in 
almost  every  station  of  life,  as  in  them  you  will  have  the  most  per- 
lect  e.\emj>lars  of  good  reasoning  and  of  sound  logic. 


TO   HIS  M>.\. 

lA)ndon ,  2  Ul  Ftbnui ry,  1 7S 1 . 
M'l  I'l.Aia.sr  liAiniv  : 

There  has  been  a  long  interruption,  in  that  series  of  letters  which 
I  '  •  .m  and  made  some  progress  in  last  year,  and  which  I  mean 
to  continue  for  your  benefit,  and  that  of  your  dear  brother  and  sister. 
1  am  happy  to  resume  my  plan,  by  the  pleasing  accounts  I  have 
lately  received  concerning  you.  Your  uncles  inform  me,  that  you 
are  not  onlv  makmg  a  rapid  progress  in  your  learning,  but,  at  a 
public  exhibition,  have  displayed  indications  of  a  free  and  unem- 
barrassed elocution.  (Jo  on,  my  dearest  boy,  in  this  glorious  course, 
and  you  will  not  only  be  a  public  ornament  to  your  country,  but  a 
blessing  to  your  surviving  parent,  as  well  as  what  your  ever  to  be  la- 
mented mother  wished  you  to  be.  My  anxiety  tu  see  you  every  day  in- 
creases ;  1  want  to  watch  your  genius,  and  assist  in  enlarging  and 
expanding  it.  I  am  anxious  about  the  disposition  of  your  heart. 
I  wish  to  cultivate  your  virtues,  and  to  destroy  the  seeds  of  any 
♦•vil  humors  you  may  find  mixing  themselves  with  those  virtues. 
Meanwhile,  at  whatever  season  of  your  life  this  may  reach  you,  let 

26 


202  THE     LIFE     OF 

it  be  your  endeavor  to  know  yourself.  Examine  your  heart  with 
the  most  unwearied  attention,  and  you  will  certainly  find  out  means 
of  promoting  and  adorning  your  good  qualities,  as  well  as  of  over- 
coming the  faulty  ones.  I  know  you  have  a  tender  and  an  affec- 
tionate heart.  You  have  already  had  your  troubles,  and  in  those 
moving  scenes  which  I  hope  you  will  never  forget,  you  behaved  in 
a  most  becoming  manner  !  Let  nobody  persuade  you  to  be 
ashamed  of  this  sensibility,  as  of  a  weakness.  If  it  is  a  weakness, 
it  is  an  amiable  one,  without  which  man  would  be  a  worse  animal 
than  the  most  ferocious  beasts  of  the  wilderness. 

With  this  knowledge  of  your  heart,  I  am  not  discouraged  with 
the  recollection  of  a  little  peevishness  of  disposition  which  I  dis- 
covered in  you  :  I  do  not  however  impute  this  so  much  to  your  nat- 
ural temper,  as  to  the  ill  state  of  health  you  was  subject  to  in 
your  childhood.  But,  my  dear  boy,  oppose  it  with  all  your  reason, 
as  the  most  dangerous  enemy  to  your  happiness,  and  to  the  quiet 
and  repose  of  your  breast,  as  well  as  to  your  health  and  constitution. 
Remember,  ira  hrevis  furor  est — it  is  high  treason  against  the  sove- 
reign authority  of  reason,  which  is  placed  in  the  human  breast  by 
God  himself,  as  the  Governor  and  Ruler  of  our  actions.  It  is  an 
enemy,  which,  if  not  subdued,  will  daily  gain  strength,  and  at 
length  usurp  those  powers  to  which  it  owes  the  most  submissive 
obedience. 

You  will  not,  I  hope,  think  me  disposed  to  find  fault,  when  I 
caution  you  against  a  propensity  which  I  think  I  have  discovered 
in  some  of  your  actions,  to  an  over-fondness  of  money.  This  sub- 
ject mixes  itself  so  much  in  every  situation  of  life,  that  it  behooves 
you  to  obtain  proper  sentiments  relative  to  it.  A  thousand  fine 
things  have  been  said  against  the  vice  of  avarice,  and  as  many 
against  that  of  profusion.  For  these  I  refer  you  to  the  moralists. 
My  view  is  only  to  point  it  out  as  a  subject  for  your  reading  and 
meditation.  It  is  impossible  for  me  to  say  any  thing  new  on  so  beaten 
a  topic.  Both  these  vices  are  destructive  of  character,  of  health,  or 
of  happiness.  The  proper  medium  is  economy,  which  will  preserve 
you  from  want,  afford  you  the  conveniences  of  life,  and  enable  you 
occasionally  to  exercise  the  Christian  and  divine  virtue  of  charity  to 
your  distressed  fellow-creatures.  In  this  sense,  economy  is  the 
very  source  of  generosity. 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  203 

You  will,  in  all  probability,  have  enou2:h  to  procure  you  a 
o;ood  education  as  well  as  a  profession,  which  would  be  sufficient 
with  a  proper  industry  and  a  G;ood  moral  character.  But,  I  trust 
vou  will  have  somethinir  more.  As  soon  as  you  come  to  the 
possession  of  this,  and  have  the  direction  of  your  own  actions,  you 
must  form  a  plan  of  life,  and  rei^ulate  your  expenses.  Form  an 
estimate  in  writini^  of  the  different  articles  of  expense,  and  allot  a 
certain  sum  for  each,  which  will  show  vou  what  sphere  in  life 
vour  income  will  allow  you  to  move  in.  This  has  been  mv  method 
weekly,  and,  though  in  Ix)ndon,  where  a  thousand  amusements 
every  day  spread  tlieir  temptations,  and  where  my  finances  were 
so  small  as  not  to  be  worth  nnrnini^,  I  have  always  lived  within 
bounds.  P»y  a  little  experienc  •,  I  could  ascertain  the  necessary 
expense  of  eatin'^,  drinkinij,  lodt^injj^,  washincT,  and  dress;  and  if 
I  sometime*^  intrenched  upon  one  article,  1  made  it  my  business  to 
replace  the  excess  by  borrowing:;  from  another.  DiLTost  this  little 
j)lan  and  improve  and  en!art;e  upon  it,  and  you  will  live  free  from 
the  iinputati«)n  of  meanness  as  well  as  of  prodigality. 

I  trust  you  will  not  have  occasion  to  be  quite  so  exact  as  I 
am  compelieil  to  be  ; — a  necessity  which  excludes  me  from  many 
very  useful  pursuits,  and  which  will  therefore,  in  its  consecpjence, 
deprive  you  as  well  as  myself  of  the  advantages  I  mii^ht  derive 
from  a  more  enlarged  sphere  of  life.  Let  me  add,  that  when  you 
have  ascertaineil  what  you  can  anil  will  spend  ptr  (uinuin,  part 
with  your  money  freely,  and  without  regret  afterwards  ;  and  what 
vou  give  to  the  poor,  let  it  be  done  with  a  cheerful  heart,  an.l 
not  grudgingly." 

The  just  medium  in  your  expenses,  and  the  propriety  of  your 
conduct  in  this  article,  as  in  all  others,  will  depend  much  on  your 
choice  of  friends  and  coinpanions.  This  will  deserve  a  little  essay 
by  itself,  and  is  a  most  important,  a  mo.>.t  interesting  subject,  on 
which  I  m(xst  ardently  pray  to  God  that  you  may  be  enabled  to 
form  just  and  proper  notions  I  Here  I  wish  you  may  inherit  some 
of  the  sagacity  of  your  grandfathers.  They  were  two  of  the  best 
observers  of  men's  charactei-s,  and  saw  deeper  into  them,  than  any 
two  persons  I  have  ever  known.  Attention  and  observation  will 
be  of  infmite  use  to  you  upon  this  subject  as  well  as  every  other ; 
and  I  do  Halter  myself,  that  you  will  enter  upon  the  stage  of  life 


f 

204  THE      LIFE      OF 

with  a  competent  knowledge  of  the  principles  of  moral  philosophy, 
ethics,  and  the  relative  duties  of  man  to  man,  in  the  different  sta- 
tions of  life,  public  and  private,  wherein  they  are  placed. 

In  short,  I  would  have  you  very  early ^o:  a  character,  in  which 
I  hope  virtue,  integrity,  honor,  consistency,  and  a  pleasing  frank- 
ness of  deportment  will  have  their  share.  In  every  action  of  your 
life,  consider  how  far  the  part  you  are  going  to  act,  is  consistent 
with  this  character.  In  your  profession,  w^hatsoever  it  may  be, 
(for  I  will  consult  only  the  bent  of  your  genius  in  the  choice,)  con- 
sider well  the  peculiar  characteristics  of  an  amiable  and  honest 
man  in  that  profession,  and  w^hether  it  be  a  merchant,  a  lawyer, 
a  physician,  or  a  divine,  aim  at  the  more  solid  though  less  glaring 
character  of  a  good  rather  than  a  great  one ;  though  I  hope  you 
will  be  both  the  one  and  the  other. 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  '205 


r  H  A  P  T  E  R    X. 

TO  HIS  SOX. 

London,  3d  October,  17S1. 
M\'  DEAREST  Harry  : 

It  is  now  several  months  since  the  date  of  your  last  letter,  but  1 
will  not  complain  ofyour  silence  as  a  neglect,  because  I  know  you  love 
me;  nor  will  I  suppose  it  proceeds  from  idleness,  because  I  know 
you  have  too  much  sense  to  be  idle.  I  impute  it,  therefore,  to  your 
close  attention  to  your  studies,  by  which  you  must  be  convinced 
that  you  will  make  me  more  happy  than  by  any  thing  else.  ll<»w- 
«  VLT,  ilu  not  contine  yourself  altogether  to  your  Roman  acquaint- 
ances, respectable  as  they  are  ;  but  be  assured,  that  neither  Virgil 
nor  Tully  will  f  nd  fault  with  vou  for  bestowing  a  few  hours  in 
writing  to  your  lather. 

1  expect  to  hear  a  great  deal  of  your  improvements,  and  1  am 
sure  1  nt'L'il  not  tell  you  that  every  succeeding  letter  must  be  more 
correct  than  the  preceding — non  pn'i^redi  est  rcffrcdi,  in  learning, 
as  well  as  in  morals  and  in  manners.  Ixrt  me  find,  therefore,  that 
you  are  not  on.y  wiser  every  day,  but,  if  possible,  a  better  boy  than 
when  I  left  you  :  by  this  you  will  make  me  hapj^y  indeed  1  Tell 
me  in  what  manner  you  spend  your  time,  what  books  you  have 
read  in  Knglish,  as  well  as  in  Latin,  &c.,  &.c.  ;  ami  inform  me  also 
how  and  where  your  dear  little  brother  and  sister  are.  I  hope  you 
see  them  often,  an<i  take  great  care  of  them,  and  remember  that 
vou  are  not  on!v  bound  to  teach  and  instruct  them,  wliich,  as  I  am 
informed  that  vou  are  an  orator  you  will  be  able  to  do  with  great 
energy,  but  also  to  set  them  an  example  worthy  of  imitation.  Kiss 
them  a  hundred  times  for  me. 

Present  my  atfectionate  regards  to  yuur  grandmamma,  and 
uncles,  and  aunts,  as  well  as  to  all  other  friends,  and  most  particu- 


206  THE      LIFE      OF 

larly  to  those  who  are  most  kind  and  attentive  to  you.     My  com- 
pUraents  also  to  your  tutor. 

I  am,  my  dearest  Harry, 

Your  very  affectionate  father  and  friend, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 
TO  HIS  SON. 

London,  1st  July,  1782. 
My  dear  Harry  : 

I  sit  down  with  inexpressible  pleasure  to  acknowledge  the  re- 
ceipt of  two  of  your  letters,  dated  in  December  and  February  last. 
These  proofs  of  your  attention  induce  me  to  suppress  a  letter,  in  which 
I  had  taxed  you  \vith  neglect,  or  rather  remissness,  in  your  episito- 
lary  duty ;  but  to  convince  you  that  no  harshness  accompanied  my 
charge,  I  must  tell  you,  that  I  imputed  your  silence  solely  to  your 
dose  application  to  your  studies  ;  but  then  let  me  remind  you,  that 
one  duty  ought  not  to  be  performed  at  the  expense  of  another,  and 
that  a  judicious  distribution  of  your  time,  will  enable  you  to  discharge 
both.  You  must  not  be  discouraged  from  writing  by  diffidence  of 
your  accomplishment  in  this  "  desirable  part  of  education,"  (as  you 
justly  express  it.)  You  are  yet  young,  and  must  not  despair  of  at- 
taining any  meritorious  object  you  have  in  view.  Remember  "  labor 
improbus  omnia  vincit  ;"  so  says  your  Virgil,  whom,  as  I  hope  he  is 
a  favorite  author  of  yours,  I  will  make  no  apology  for  quoting  ; 
and  as  you  are  a  schnlar,  I  shall  escape  the  imputation  of  pedantry, 
which  I  should  incur  by  using  an  unknown  language.  This  dis- 
tinction your  own  observation  has  suo;p'ested  to  vou  lono-  aofo,  I 
dare  say. 

Your  letters  are  not  quite  so  correct  as  I  could  wish,  but  as  I 
find  each  succeeding  one  better  than  the  preceding,  I  have  the  most 
sanguine  hopes  of  your  future  attainments.  By  the  by,  I  hope 
you  are  not  afraid  of  the  trouble  of  frequently  turning  to  your  dic- 
tionary, both  with  respect  to  your  orthography  and  the  true  sense 
and  meaning  of  the  words  you  use  yourself,  or  which  you  meet  with 
in  your  reading.  1  shall  sometimes  use  a  hard  word  on  purpose  to 
give  you  this  beneficial  employment ;  and  perhaps  occasionally 
I  shall  apply  it  with  a  degree  of  impropriety,  in  order  to  give  you 
an  opportunity  of  setting  me  right,  for  you  must  take  nothing 
upon  the  mere  ipse  dixit  of  any  one,  not  even  of  your  father. 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  207 

I  thank  you  for  the  account  you  gave  rac  of  your  theatrical 
exhibition.  So  far  as  this  may  be  conducive  to  an  easy  and  c^iace- 
ful  elocution,  it  may  be  useful ;  but  methinks  I  would  not  wish  you 
to  be  over  lond  of  it.  The  play  you  mention  (with  the  judicious 
distinction  you  make)  is  an  excellent  one,  and  is  full  of  noble  sen- 
timents, with  which  1  hope  you  will  be  properly  impressetl.  I  wish 
you  had  spoken  the  prologue ;  but  I  doubt  not  that  you  are  so 
much  pleased  with  it  that  you  have  got  it  by  heart.  My  Jiiba  has, 
however,  forgotten  to  tell  me  who  was  his  Marcia.  The  next  time 
you  must  give  me  the  irhole  drumatis  prrsomr. 

Upon  the  sulject  of  your  .  to  college,  I  know  not  what  to 

say,  wishing  to  submit  that  matter  altocether  to  your  kiml  friends 
upon  the  spot.     I   am  perfectly  s..  ;    with   the  seminary  you 

mention,  but  1  think  you  are  tjuite  }<'Ung  enough  yet.  I  am  not 
so  anxious  that  you  should  be  employed  in  a  great  many  things,  as 
that  you  should  thoroughly  understand  a  few.  1  remember  1  had 
advanced  as  far  as  Justin,  under  one  tutor,  and  whin  put  to 
another,  1  could  not  explain  the  <'  "^  nee  between  a  noun  sub- 
stantive and  a  noun  adjectivt*.  i  iic  c«  rnce  was,  I  was 
ol)l!L,M(l  to  1)1  <:in  my  rudunent>  ■  Ijy  bei:  ^ely  con- 
fined to  my  grammar,  \  and  makin*:  of  Latui,  a  proper 
foundation  was  soon  laid,  to  which  I  am  'her  indebted  for 
what  littU"  improvements  1  atterwards  made. 

A  habit  of  attention,  a  capacity  of  thinking  and  of  comparing 
1/our  own  ideas  together,  and  a  fondness  of  application,  are  the 
'^rand  objects  of  my  wish  with  resj>ecl  to  yon.  1  have  employed 
part  of  njy  time  for  your  benefit,  and  you  will  receive  the  fruit  of 
it  as  the  best  legacy  1  can  leave  you,  should  you  nevei  see  me — 
hut  I  trust  God  in  his  mercy  will  not  doom  us  both  to  so  hard  a 
dispensation  I  As  Mx^n  as  1  am  out  of  my  present  suspense  with 
respect  to  my  complaint,  I  shall  at  least  ujake  the  aitimpt  to  see 
you.  It  is  m  our  own  country  1  wi^h  to  see  you,  but  if,  unlor- 
tunalely,  that  can  not  be,  (which  Heaven  avert,)  it  jnust  be  else- 
where. 

If  you  should  go  to  college,  1  dare  say  you  will  have  a  great 
deal  of  good  advice  from  your  friends,  and  you  will  doubtless  be 
told  that  you  shouhl  be  very  intimate  with  only  a  few,  but  at  the 
same  time  polite  and  alFable  to  all  your  brother  students,  to  \\hom 


208  THE     LIFE     OF 

your  behavior  should  be  free  from  all  sort  of  pride  or  haughtiness. 
Good  nature  is  one  of  the  most  pleasing  and  engaging  qualities. 
Cultivate  it,  my  dear  son,  and  every  body  will  love  you.  You  will 
soon  distinguish  some  characters  among  the  young  gentlemen  who 
are  more  amiable  than  others,  and  such,  I  hope,  you  will  be  fond 
of  imitating.  I  hope  I  shall  not  hear  of  your  getting  into  any 
quarrels,  but  if  you  should  be  so  unfortunate,  you  ought  to  behave 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  obtain  the  approbation  of  the  impartial. 

With  respect  to  your  expenses,  you  will  be  prudent,  but  avoid 
the  remotest  appearance  of  meanness  or  stinginess — that  is  con- 
temptible. You  shall  never  want  any  reasonable  allowance,  and 
I  am  sure  you  will  not  wish  more.  Ask  what  is  necessary,  and 
spend  it  freely. 

I  have  just  now  a  letter  from  your  cousin  Harry  Walton,  who 
is  safely  arrived  in  the  Downs,  and  will  be  with  me  in  a  few  days. 
He  will  be  at  one  of  the  best  schools,  but  I  trust  that  when  you 
and  he  meet,  you  will  be  able  to  show  that  an  American  education 
is  equal  to  an  English  one.  T  shall  tell  him  that  I  have  suggested 
this  to  you,  and  as  you  start  pretty  equal,  so  I  hope  you  will  make 
equal  exertions  "  optatam  cursu  contingere  metam,''  (as  your  friend 
Horace  has  it.)  A  friendly  emulation  in  so  glorious  a  career  will 
do  you  both  great  honor,  and  I  doubt  not  but  that  whoever  of  you 
is  foremost,  the  other  w^ill  generously  acknowledge  the  superiority 
without  a  spark  of  envy,  that  basest  and  most  diabolical  of  all  the 
passions.  Look  at  the  picture  of  it  in  your  Prseceptor  and  the 
description  in  Ovid,  and  you  will  be  convinced  of  this.  When  you 
meet,  I  hope  I  shall  find  you  both  cantare  pares  et  respondere  paraii, 
and  that  I  shall  have  the  same  difficulty  (from  the  cleverness  of 
both  of  you)  which  Virgil  had  about  adjudging  the  palm  to  either 
of  the  candidates. 

Make  my  best  compliments  to  Mr.  Nicoll,  of  whom  T  have 
had  a  most  favorable  account  from  his  former  pupil  Master  Harry 
Cuyler,  who  is  here  and  much  beloved  at  school.  It  is  extremely 
pleasing  when  the  tutor  and  pupil  speak  well  of  each  other,  and 
does  honor  to  both.     I  hope  it  will  always  be  your  case. 

Remember  me  with  duty  to  your  grandmamma,  and  with  affec- 
fection  to  all  my  friends  and  all  your  friends,  and  believe  me. 
Most  tenderly  and  affectionately  yours, 

P.    V.    SCHAACK. 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  209 

TO   HIS  SOX. 

London,  \'2th  January,  17S3. 
My  dear  IIaruy  : 

I  wrote  to  you  on  or  about  the  1st  November  last,  since 
uIj'k  h  I  have  received  your  favor  of  the  2Sth  September,  which 
was  the  more  acceptable  as  you  promised  me  a  longer  letter  soon. 
I  fear,  however,  that  I  shall  be  disappointed  in  the  hopes  1  iMduIi:;ed 
from  this  promise,  as  I  find  your  uncle  expects  me  at  New- York. 
On  this  subject  I  have'writtcn  to  him,  and  jx)inted  out  the  necessity 
I  am  under  of  remaining  here,  till  the  faculty  decide  my  fate  with 
rcNpectto  under  an  operation  or  not.     When  that  is  determined 

I  shall  take  my  resolution  alx)ut  my  long-wi>htil-k)r  return  ;  mean- 
while I  \)v'S,  you  will  not  desist  from  writing  often ;  for  should  I 
never  receive  your  1-  .  they  will  however  answer  the  valuable 
purpose  of  improvement  to  \  Virgil  says  of  fame 

is  strictly  applicable  to  tlie  mind  in  all  it*;  exercises — vires  acquirit 
cundo. 

He  assured  that  much  of  my  thoughts  is  employed  about  you  ; 
to  n»ake  you  happy  in  yourself,  ;  ible  to,  and  beloved  by  your 

liieiids,  and  a  useful  m  '  ol  si>citty,  are  the  important  objects 
I  have  in  vitw.  On  your  pi«rt  I  dr*»ire  little  more  than  that  when 
I  njcet  you,  I  may  fmd  you  free  from  any  bad  If  you  are 

but  in   the  r/i,-^/!/  track,  and  steer  by  a  qontl   >  .  I   ^hall   be 

}>li  ;i-r(l  though  you  goon  but  viowlv,  and  shall  t  you  to  reach 

}<»ui    disired  port  more  exp-  j  as  wtll  as  more  certainly, 

than  if  you  were  to  sail  at  random  nfv.  r  vo  swiftly.  Your  grammar 
must  be  your  Palinurus  amidst  the  Muiii  ulties  of  your  voyage,  till 
you  have  the  Italian  shore  in  full  view  ;  nor  should  you  then  neglect 
the  faithful  pilot,  but  treat  him  like  an  old  trusty  servant,  whose 
future  servi(  ts  you  no  longer  want,  but  whose  past  ix<>od  ollices 
you  retain  the  benefit  and  a  remembrance  of. 

1  thank  you  very  much  for  your  pretty  quotation,  and  the  ten- 
der filial  wish  which  it  contains:  it  is  in  your  own  power,  my  dear 
l)oy,  to  accomplish  that  wish,  and  to  '  be  what  you  tiesire.'  ( )ji  my 
}uui,  1  shall  earnestly  endeavor  to  merit  from  you  the  honorable 
testimony  which  Horace  pays  to  his  father;  insuevil  pater  optimi's 
hoc  me,  &.C. — apropos,  of  Horace,  let  me  recommend  to  you  an 

27 


210  THE      LIFE      OF 

attentive  perusal  of  five  or  six  lines  in  the  fourth  Satyre  of  the  first 
book,  beginning  at  the  hundred  and  thirty-third  line,  or  rather  also 
a  sentence  before  that.  I  am  sure  you  will  be  pleased  with  the 
precept  as  well  as  inclined  to  follow  the  example. 

I  am  not  desirous  that  you  should  read  a  great  deal,  but  I 
expect  you  will  understand  what  you  do  read,  and  I  could  wish 
that  you  would  select  a  few  favorite  passages  out  of  every  author 
you  read  to  convince  me  of  your  attention  as  well  as  of  your  taste. 
Collect  these  in  a  little  book  to  be  shown  to  me  on  my  arrival,  and 
be  assured,  I  will  reward  you  amply  for  your  pains.  Your  cousin 
Harry  Walton  intends  to  write  to  you,  as  I  wish  you  would  to  him, 
without  regard  to  ceremony.  He  is  a  good  boy,  of  a  most  sweet 
temper,  and  makes  a  good  progress  in  his  learning.  He  is  excel- 
lently well  grounded  in  his  gram7nar — mind  that. 

How  does  Buck  come  on  in  his  learning  ?  He  is  now,  tell  him, 
almost  seven  years  old,  and  if  he  cannot  spell  apple-pie,  he  should 
not  be  allowed  to  eat  it.  Kiss  him  and  your  dear  little  sister  for 
me,  and  tell  them  both  I  will  bring  them  a  great  many  pretty 
things,  provided  they  are  good  children.  You  must  also  remem- 
ber me  to  all  my  friends  and  all  yours,  particularly  to  your  aged 
grandmamma,  to  whom  I  hope  you  behave  dutifully.  Adieu  !  my 
dearest  boy,  and  be  assured  "  mini  lectulus,  aut  me  Porticus  ex- 
cepit,'^  I  never  fail  to  think  of  you,  being  always, 

Your  most  affectionate  father  and  sincere  friend, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

TO   HIS  SON. 

London,  2bth  March,  1783. 
My  dear  Harry  : 

I  have  not  had  a  line  from  you  for  several  months  past,  which 
gives  me  great  concern ;  however,  I  firmly  expect  that  the  next 
vessel  from  New-York  will  bring  me  the  lo?ig  letter  you  promised 
me  some  time  ago.  The  inclosed  is  from  your  cousin  Walton, 
which  I  dare  say  will  afford  you  pleasure,  and  soon  produce  an 
answer  from  you.  I  say  soon,  for  you  must  never  delay,  or  put  off, 
doing  your  duty.  You  should  give  your  kinsman  some  account 
of  your  academy,  such  as  the  number  of  students,  the  division  of 
your  classes,  the  books  you  read,  your  hours  of  study,  your  recrea- 


PETER     VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  211 

tions,  &.C.,  and  you  may  tell  him  who  is  the  best  scholar  in  each 
class ;  but  this  should  be  in  confdence^  lest  it  should  be  thou^jht 
presumptuous  in  you  to  give  an  opinion  upon  so  important  a  point. 
You  must  be  ver}'  careful  how  you  pass  judG;ment  upon  the  merits 
and  qualifications  of  others.  Take  care  of  the  beam  in  your  own 
eye,  but  do  not  expose  the  moat  in  that  of  othere. 

1  suppose  by  this  time  you  have  had  some  few  lessons  in  geog- 
raphy and  chronology,  which  will  very  much  assist  you  in  reailing 
history.  When  I  have  the  happiness  of  seeing  you,  and  of  giving 
you  an  account  of  my  travels,  I  will  enable  you  to  trace  them  upon 
the  map.  I  had  a  present  the  other  day  of  a  very  fine  atlas,  which 
shall  be  for  your  use.  Fray  do  you  ever  write  themes,  and  upon 
what  subjects  have  you  employed  your  thoughts  and  pen  ?  \\  hat 
could  you  say  upon  that  admirable  sentiment  in  Terrence — Homo 
sum,  humani  nil  a  mc  alienum  puto  f 

1  h  It  behind  me  a  little  book  called  "  Cicero's  Thoughts," 
which  I  recommend  very  much  to  your  perusal,  if  it  is  but  a  page, 
(jr  even  a  paragraph  at  a  time.  When  you  meet  with  any  rare 
passage  in  any  of  the  books  you  read,  pray  transcribe  it,  and  keep 
it  to  show  me  when  we  meet  Believe  me  I  will  reward  all  your 
labors  in  this  way,  most  bountifully.  If  you  will  but  take  as  nuich 
pains  to  improve  yourself,  as  I  will  to  instruct  you,  you  will  make 
mc  hap])y.  1  hop.-  I  may  be  able  to  say  of  my  instruction  to  you, 
what  Shakspcare  says  of  the  cjuality  o\  mercy,  *'  It  is  twice  bless'd 
— it  is  bless'd  in  him  that  gives  and  in  him  that  receives." 

How  does  liuck  come  on  in  his  reading  \  Tt-ll  him  I  will  not 
nturn  to  Kinderhook,  till  he  invites  me  by  a  letter  of  his  own  writ- 
ing ;  so  if  he  wishes  to  see  mc  he  must  learn  to  write.  I  hope  he 
and  your  dear  little  sister  are  well,  and  that  all  of  yoii  are  happy 
and  coutenteil.  Kiss  tliem  for  me.  Mv  duty  to  your  graruhnamma 
and  love  to  all  your  friends,  for  be  as>ured  that  all  such  are  mine. 
I  am,  my  dearest,  beloved  Ixiy, 

Your  most  affectionate  father  and  friend, 

Peter  Van  S<.haack. 

TO  HIS  SON. 

lAnidon,  \1th  .^fiti/,  17S3. 
Mv  itKAii  IhnRV  : 

Wht-n  you  receive  this  letter,  or  very  sooii  after,  you  will  have 


212  THE     LIFE     OF 

the  pleasure  of  seeing  your  namesake  and  uncle,  Cruger.  It  is  no 
small  mortification  to  me  that  I  cannot  accompany  him,  but  my 
anxiety  to  see  you  and  your  dear  brother  and  sister  must  still  be 
suppressed  for  one  year  longer — a  tedious  time  it  will  be !  With 
your  uncle  goes  Mr.  Mullet,  a  gentleman  who  has  been  very  civil 
to  me,  in  return  for  which  I  hope  you  wall  treat  him  w^ith  respect 
and  attention.  Buck  and  Betsey  must  love  him  for  my  sake.  I 
must  beg  that  you  will  be  a  Cicerone  to  these  gentlemen,  that  is 
to  say,  you  must  show  them  all  the  curiosities  about  Kinderhook, 
and  be  their  guide.  Point  out  to  them  the  beauties  of  the  Blue 
Mountains,  though  at  a  distance,  and  go  with  them  to  the  falls 
upon  the  gi^eat  Kinderhook  Creek  above  and  below^  you — Qu(B 
nemora,  aut  qui  saltus  hahuere  JVaides  Puellas — you  will  show 
them.  Those  majestic  hills  you  may  compare  to  Mount  Parnassus, 
or  Atlas,  and  these  pure  streams  to  those  of  Helicon.  Parva  licet 
commoner e  magnis. 

I  have  desired  my  friend  Mr.  IMullet  to  give  me  a  very  particu- 
lar account  of  you,  and  I  hope  it  will  be  a  most  pleasing  one : 
however,  do  not  be  afraid  that  he  will  be  too  severe  or  critical, 
as  he  wdll  make  every  allow^ance  for  your  youth,  &c.  If  he  finds 
you  a  good-natured,  well-disposed,  cheerful  little  fellow,  I  shall 
excuse  almost  every  thing  else.  Good  breeding,  I  need  not  men- 
tion, because  I  cannot  suppose  it  possible  you  should  be  wanting 
in  that ;  but  by  this  I  do  not  mean  that  you  should  bow  and  scrape 
like  a  dancing  master.  Your  uncle  Cruger  will  give  you  a  great 
deal  of  good  advice  with  regard  both  to  your  manners,  and  the 
carriage  of  your  body.  Apropos  :  How^  tall  are  you  ?  And  tell 
me  the  height  of  the  little  ones  also,  between  w^hom  I  suppose  you 
are.  Quantum  lentus  solet  inter  Viburna  Cupressus. 

Your  cousin  has  lately  written  to  you.  He  is  in  better  health 
than  he  was  before  he  came  to  England,  and  continues  a  good  boy. 
He  has  sent  you  a  book  of  his  drawings,  in  which  he  improves 
very  much.  You  must  not  be  jealous  of  him  because  he  possesses 
this  accomplishment  and  you  do  not.  There  are  many  roads  be- 
sides, that  lead  to  fame,  and  I  shall  be  full  as  well  pleased  if  you 
take  that  in  which  Virgil  and  the  other  Roman  poets  will  be  your 
guide.  I  mean  that  you  should  be  a  good  classical  scholar — non 
omnia  possumus  onmcs.     I  wish    much    to  know   what  sort   of 


PETER     VAN     BCHAACK.  2 13 

reading  and  study  you  are  most  inclined  to.  Tell  me  how  you 
come  on  with  your  rhetoric,  in  which  I  wish  you  to  be  well  versed, 
though  I  would  not  have  you  like  lludibras,  who,  you  know, 

"  Could  not  ope 
His  mouth  but  out  there  flew  a  trope." 

It  is  a  very  long  time  since  I  was  favored  with  any  of  your 
letters,  Avhich  is  no  small  mortification  to  me.  I  ought  to  hear 
from  you  at  least  once  a  month.  Surely,  my  dear  boy,  you  cannot 
think  much  of  the  trouble  of  writing  to  your  father  and  your  friend. 
I  would  go  to  the  world's  end  to  make  you  happy.  But  perhaps 
your  letters  have  miscarried,  at  least  I  am  willing  to  think  this  has 
been  the  case.  You  cannot  write  too  often.  If  you  find  it  diffi- 
cult to  express  your  thoughts,  do  not  be  discouraged.  Practice 
will  overcome  it  all,  iterum  iterumque  ientandum  est. 

Remember  me  to  your  grandmamma  in  the  most  dutiful  and 
affectionate  manner,  and  also  to  all  our  relations  and  connections 
as  if  particularly  mentioned  by  name.  Kiss  Buck  and  Betsey  for 
me.  I  hope  you  are  a  kind  and  tender  brother  to  them ;  in  my 
absence  you  must  be  their  guardian  and  protector,  and  they,  I 
hope,  will  love  and  obey  you.     Fili  mi  diledissime,  vale  ! 

Your  affectionate  father  and  constant  friend, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

TO  HIS  SON. 

Londouj  25th  June,  1783. 
My  dearest  Harry  : 

I  thank  you  for  your  letter  of  the  1st  April,  and  hope  soon  to 
receive  one  from  you,  dated  at  New^-Y''ork.  For  the  future  our  let- 
ters will  come  to  each  other  sealed.  When  you  WTite  to  me,  let 
no  one  see  your  letters,  nor  dictate  to  you — write  in  your  own  way, 
and  with  as  much  freedom  as  you  would  to  a  brother,  or  a  friend. 
I  will  make  every  allowance  for  errors  and  incorrectnesses  that 
you  can  wish,  but  not  for  idleness  or  inattention — these  are  inexcu- 
sable. Tell  me  freely  who  has  been  most  kind  and  attentive  to 
you,  and  your  dear  little  brother  and  sister.  All  such  shall  be 
doubly  and  trebly  my  friends.  Which  of  the  boys  are  your  friends 
and  favorites,  and  for  the  sake  of  what  qualities  have  you  given 


214  THE     LIFE     OF 

such  the  preference  ?  Virtue,  good  sense,  and  good  nature,  are 
the  basis  upon  which  you  must  build  your  friendships.  Cultivate 
these  qualities  in  yourself,  and  you  will  be  esteemed  and  beloved. 
Treat  every  body  kindly  and  with  good  manners,  and  take  care  to 
make  no^enemies  by  any  ill-natured  or  severe  expressions.  If  you 
have  wit,  let  it  never  go  forth  but  when  it  is  directed  by  good  na- 
ture. If  you  have  made  any  enemies  by  your  own  improper  con- 
duct, candidly  confess  your  fault,  ask  their  pardon  and  promise 
reformation.  This  seeming  humiliation,  will  be  a  real  exaltation 
of  your  character.  It  is  an  excellent  maxim,  Ignoscito  scspe  alteri, 
NUNQUAM  TiBi.  Of  Cato  it  was  said,  JYihil  oblivisci  solerat  nisi 
iNJURiAs.  Keep  a  watch  upon  yourself,  but  be  liberal  and  indulgent 
to  others  in  every  thing  but  their  vices. 

As  to  books,  I  hope  you  will  get  a  supply  at  New-York  ;  get 
also  a  plenty  of  stationery,  and  do  not  spare  your  pen,  ink  and 
paper,  especially  when  you  write  to  me.  Do  not  be  discouraged 
if  you  cannot  please  yourself  at  first,  but  scratch  and  alter,  and 
tear  your  paper  a  hundred  times,  till  you  please  yourself.  Nothing 
will  imprint  your  ideas  more  strongly,  or  assist  your  memory  bet- 
ter, than  committing  your  thoughts  or  those  of  others  to  writing. 
Mind  your  grammar  and  avoid  false  concord,  and  false  govern- 
ment. There  were  some  of  these  in  your  last  letter,  but  upon  the 
whole  it  is  a  very  good  one.  Mind  your  capital  letters  where  you 
place  them.  A  little  use  and  attention  will  make  all  this  very  easy 
to  you.  I  hope  you  will  tell  me  all  you  see  at  New-York  worth 
mentioning.  When  I  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you,  you  shall 
have  a  journal  of  my  travels,  which  I  intend  soon  to  extend  to 
France  and  Holland.  Next  spring  I  hope  to  have  the  happiness 
of  embracing  you  and  the  little  ones  !  Tell  me  something  about 
Buck  and  Betsey.     God  bless  you,  ray  dear  boy  !  is  the  prayer  of 

Your  affectionate  father  7xn{\  friend, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

P.  S.  I  wish  you  would  make  a  list,  or  catalogue  of  all  my 
books.  Your  cousin  Harry  is  now  in  the  same  room  with  me,  and 
reading  Virgil  in  order  to  recite  and  i^arse  a  lesson  to  me.  He  is 
at  the  161st  line  of  the  3d  /En.  What  book  of  this  sweet  poem 
are  you  now  in  ?  I  hope  you  are  fond  of  it,  and  do  not  fall  asleep, 
or  feel  tired  while  you  are  reading  such  excellent  authors. 


P  K  T  E  R      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  215 


TO  HIS  SON. 

London,  lllh  Jlitgusty  1783. 
My  DEAR  Harry: 

It  is  now  some  time  since  I  rcceivcil  your  letter  dated  at  New- 
York,  and  I  return  you  many  thanks  for  it,  while  I  am  to  ask  your 
pardon  for  so  long  delaying  my  answer.  Be  assured  that  it  has 
not  proceeded  from  inattention — that  never  can  happen,  for  I  hard- 
ly ever  cease  to  think  of  you,  and  with  the  most  tender  and  anx- 
ious concern  for  your  welfare.  My  heart  trembles  whenever  I 
open  letters  that  I  think  will  make  mention  of  you,  lest  they  should 
communicate  some  unpleasing  tidings — think  of  this. 

Your  aunt  Cruger  gives  me  a  very  good  account  of  you.  She 
says  you  behave  very  well,  that  you  speak  correctly,  and  have  but  lit- 
tle of  the  country  accent.  Try  to  get  the  better  of  it  altogether. 
You  should  accustom  yourself  to  read  out  and  with  an  audible 
voice,  and  as  often  as  you  can  in  presence  of  some  good  judge ;  I 
hope  you  are  not  too  proud  to  be  corrected  when  you  are  wrong ; 
^vhoever  will  do  that  with  kindness  and  candor,  should  be  esteem- 
ed as  your  best  friend.  Even  if  it  is  done  harshly  or  rudely,  you 
should  endeavor  to  profit  by  it.     Fas  est  et  ab  hoste  doceri. 

I  am  happy  to  have  such  favorable  accounts  of  your  cousin 
Francis,  because  such  an  amiable  campanion  will  encourage  you 
to  continue  going  on  in  the  paths  of  virtue.  If  your  temper  is  not 
naturally  so  good  as  his,  you  should  endeavor  to  amend  it.  Be 
assured  your  efforts  will  be  crowned  with  success.  You  doubtless 
remember  the  story  of  Zopyrus,  the  physiognomist,  and  Socrates, 
the  great,  the  good  Socrates.  Read  it  over  and  over  again,  and 
make  some  practical  improvements  upon  it. 

You  make  me  happy  wdth  the  favorable  report  you  make  of 
our  dear  little  Buck  and  sweet  little  Betsey.  Remember  that  you 
must  take  very  particular  care  of  them  in  my  absence.  You  are 
so  much  older  than  they  are,  that  you  must  be  their  guardian  till 
I  can  take  them  and  you  too,  under  my  protection.  Most  anxious- 
ly do  I  look  forward  to  that  happy  time,  which  I  trust  will  be  in 
less  than  a  twelvemonth  !  Then,  my  dearest  Harry,  will  you  be 
convinced  that  you  have  in  me  not  only  a  fond  parent,  but  a  warm 
and  sincere y)'ien(/.     If  I  fmd  you  a  good,  virtuous  boy,  be  assured 


216  TIIELIFEOF 

that  you  shall  have  every  indulgence  you  can  desire;  but  I  need 
not  tell  you  that  I  shall  not  overlook  your  faults.  It  will  be  my 
constant  study  to  help  you  to  get  the  better  of  them,  but  I  must 
find  a  disposition  in  you  to  exert  all  your  powers  for  this  purpose. 
My  affection  for  you  is  very  great,  but  it  wull  not  hinder  me  from 
distinguishing  between  your  good  qualities,  and  such  as  are  excep- 
tionable; — the  former  I  trust  will  be  many,  the  latter  very  few,  if  any. 

I  want  to  know  a  great  deal  about  you,  and,  to  tell  you  the 
truth,  I  have  desired  some  of  my  friends  to  give  me  your  real  cha- 
racter in  all  its  particulars;  now  this  being  the  case,  you  ought  to 
consider  what  will  be  said  of  you,  and  to  that  end  you  should  ex- 
amine yourself  very  seriously.  If  you  fmd  that  you  are  subject  to 
certain  passions  and  humors,  which  you  think  would  prevent  your 
being  beloved  and  esteemed,  try  all  you  can  to  get  the  better  of 
them.  Horace  says  of  anger,  "?im  paret,  imperet."  This  may 
be  said  of  all  the  passions.  I  wish  you  would  sit  down  and  write 
your  own  character,  and  describe  yourself.  Some  painters  draw 
their  own  faces,  and  why  should  you  not  draw  the  picture  of  your 
own  heart  ?  To  make  the  picture  true,  thei/  are  indeed  obliged 
sometimes  to  expose  deformities,  but  then  they  cannot  help  them, 
whereas  the  deformities  of  the  mind  may  all  be  got  the  better  of, 
and  converted  into  beauties,  as  was  the  case  with  Socrates.  I  ex- 
pect you  will  give  me  an  account  of  the  manner  in  which  you  have 
succeeded  in  this  important  business. 

Your  letter  from  Kinderhook  to  your  uncle,  w^as  not  so  neatly 
written,  as  that  to  me  from  New-York;  how  happened  that,  my 
dear  boy  1 

I  am  glad  to  hear  that  Buck  grows  such  a  fine  fellow,  and 
that  he  can  read  any  part  of  the  spelling-book.  You  are  doubtless 
of  great  use  to  him,  as  well  as  to  little  Betsey.  You  must  teach 
them  to  understand  as  well  as  to  read.  But,  above  all,  teach  them 
to  be  good  children,  and  support  your  doctrine  by  your  own  ex- 
ample.  When  you  write  to  me,  tell  your  brother  and  sister  of  it, 
and  ask  what  they  have  to  say  to  me,  and  do  you  mention  it  in 
their  own  words.  Kiss  them  for  me,  and  tell  them  how  much  I 
love  them.  Give  my  love  also  to  all  your  cousins.  Tell  my 
godson,  Peter  Van  Alen,  that  I  should  be  glad  to  hear  from  him, 
and  that  he  must  inform  me  about   all  his  brothers  and  sisters. 


P  K  T  E  R      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  217 

Your  cousin  Francis,  also,  1  should  be  glad  to  hear  iVom  in  llic 
same  way,  relative  to  his  brothers  and  sisters. 

I  hope  you  do  not  think  my  letters  too  long.  It"  I  could  suppose 
that  to  be  the  case,  it  would  make  me  unhappy  indeed.  The 
longer  yours  are,  my  dear  boy,  the  more  acce})lable  they  always 
are  to  me.  May  Heaven  bless  and  protect  you,  my  beloved  son, 
and  be  assured  that  I  am. 

Your  most  alFectionate  father  and  friend, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

TO  HIS  SON. 

London,  22d  JVov.,  1783. 
My  dear  Son  : 

I  was  made  very  happy  by  your  letter  of  21st  August,  which 
I  received  only  four  days  ago.  This  circumstance  of  its  old  date, 
which  might  be  thought  to  lessen  its  value,  does  in  fact  greatly 
enhance  it  in  my  estimation,  for  your  uncle  assures  me  that  it  is 
all  of  your  own  composition,  as  all  your  future  letters  shall  be.  I 
therefore  consider,  that  if  my  dear  boy  could  w^ite  so  good  a  letter 
the  21^^  0^  Jiugust,  it  does  him  more  honor  and  therefore  ought  to 
give  me  more  pleasure,  than  if  it  had  been  written  when  he  was 
two  months  older.  It  is  for  this  reason  only  that  I  value  its  distant 
date,  and  not  because  I  am  turned  virtuoso  or  antiquarian,  who 
value  every  thing  that  is  ancient  merely  for  its  being  so,  and  prize 
it  the  higher  even  for  the  very  rust,  which  it  has  contracted  by 
age.  Perhaps  you  will  not  understand  what  I  allude  to,  as  no 
such  characters  have  probably  as  yet  come  to  your  knowledge. 

As  you  are  to  write  your  own  letters  without  being  inspected, 
let  me  advise  you  to  read  some  instructions  upon  the  subject  of 
epistolary  composition,  which  you  w^ill  find  in  the  Praeceptor,  in  a 

letter  addressed,  I  think,  to  Master  F .     The  great  thing  you 

must  aim  at,  is  to  draw  off  your  attention  from  all  other  subjects, 
and  confine  it  solely  to  the  business  you  are  upon,  and  check  your- 
self whenever  you  find  your  thoughts  are  wandering  from  it. 
When  you  have  well  revolved  in  your  mind  what  you  intend  to 
say,  then  choose  the  best  language  to  express  it.  Do  not  spare 
your  dictionary,  which  will  furnish  you  with  a  choice  of  words  ex- 
pressive of  the  same  idea,  and  thereby  enable  you  to  avoid  tau- 

28 


218  THE     LIFE     OF 

toloo-y.  If  you  cannot  please  yourself  with  what  you  have  written, 
tear  it  and  begin  again  of  a  new — ludibria  ventis. 

Grammatical  accuracy  must  also  be  observed.  Government 
and  concord  are  indispensable,  and  you  should  be  able  to  parse 
every  sentence  you  write.  Your  verbs  with  all  their  moods  and 
tenses,  and  nouns  with  their  genders,  numbers  and  cases,  must  be 
attended  to.  If  you  find  yourself  puzzled  in  forming  a  sentence  in 
one  way,  try  another.  Invert  and  alter  it  in  every  possible  way, 
till  you  please  yourself.  Sometimes  you  will  find  help  from  striking 
out  the  active  verb  and  accusative  case,  and  substituting  the  passive 
with  a  nominative,  and  vice  versa.  In  short,  my  dear  Harry,  spare 
no  pains  in  forming  your  style  and  writing  with  correctness,  and  be 
assured  you  will  succeed.  You  ought  to  mind  your  stops,  and 
take  care  how  you  use  your  capitals,  which  ought  to  be  only  in 
the  beginning  of  a  sentence,  and  in  substantives ;  and  especially 
ought  never  to  be  omitted  in  proper  names  of  persons  and  places. 
You  will  perhaps  think  this  a  dull,  dry  letter,  but  do  not  slight  it 
too  much. 

I  hope  you  are  exact  about  your  letters  and  papers,  and  keep 
them  in  neat  order.  Do  not  wear  them  out  in  your  pockets,  but 
preserve  them  in  files  nicely  indorsed.  Apropos,  you  do  not  fold 
your  letters  cleverly,  and  you  must  not  have  margins. 

I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you  for  correcting  my  errors,  which 
I  hope  you  will  continue  to  do.  In  the  present  case,  you  have 
done  it  with  a  true  gentlemanlike  delicacy.  This  will  render  you 
a  valuable  critic  to  your  friends,  and  I  hope  you  have  candor 
enough  to  hear  your  own  faults  pointed  out  to  you,  and  to  amend 
them.  Your  cousin  Francis  and  you  should  mutually  perform 
these  good  offices  to  each  other.  Why  does  he  never  write  to 
me  1     Tell  him  how  happy  I  shall  be  to  hear  from  him. 

You  have  given  me  great  pleasure  by  your  happy  quotation 
from  the  beautiful  ode  of  Horace,  and  I  shall  profit  by  your  advice. 
You  should  read  the  introductory  remarks  upon  it,  showing  the 
occasion  and  the  design  of  it.  Si  fractus  illabatur  orbis,  impavi- 
dumferient  mines.  Does  not  this  remind  you  of  Cato's  address  to 
the  soul — "  the  stars  shall  fade  away,"  &c. — "  the  war  of  elements, 
the  crush  of  worlds,  and  the  wreck  of  matter,"  &c.  Horace  is  a 
charming  fellow.     Pope  says  of  him, 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  219 

"  Horace  still  charms  with  graceful  negligence, 
And  without  method  talks  us  into  sense." 

I  hope  some  of  your  friends  occasionally  point  out  to  you  some 
of  Pope's  many  beauties.  "  Tlie  Essay  on  Man"  is  rather  too  deep 
for  you  to  comprehend  the  system  and  the  chain  of  reasoning 
in  sujiport  ol  it,  but  theie  are  j)assages  in  it  which  will  very 
much  please  you,  such  as  the  noble  exordium,  and  the  sublime 
conclusion — "  Awake,  my  St.  John !"  &c.,  and  "  Come  then,  my 
friend,  my  genius,  come  along,"  &c.  The  tenderness  of  the  image 
of  the  lamh,  and  the  digression — "  Lo  the  poor  Indian  !"  &c.,  are 
wonderfully  beautiful.  The  address  to  happiness  in  the  beginning'' 
of  the  fourth  Epistle,  should  be  read  with  great  attention.  In  his 
Moral  Epistles,  the  character  of  the  Man  of  Ross  is  highly  pleas- 
ing, and  that  of  Sir  Balaam  will  make  you  smile.  Do  not  think 
me  tedious,  my  dear  Harry,  and  be  assured  you  w^ill  find  your 
labors  well  rewarded. 

Did  you  ever  read  Shakspeare's  "  Measure  for  Measure  ?"  In 
the  seventh  scene  of  the  seventh  act  are  some  beautiful  thousfhts — 
"  Could  great  men  thunder  as  Jove  himself  does,"  &c.,  and  then — 
"  Merciful  Heaven  !"  I  never  read  or  repeat  this  w^ithout  sensibil- 
ity. In  the  Merchant  of  Venice,  too,  act  fourth,  scene  second,  you 
will  be  touched  with  the  beautiful  lines : 

"  The  quality  of  mercy  is  not  strain'd  ; 

It  droppeth  as  the  gentle  rain  from  heav'n 
Upon  the  place  beneath.     It  is  twice  bless'd, 
It  blesseth  him  that  gives  and  him  that  takes. 
'Tis  mightiest  in  the  mightiest,"  &c. 

I  am  sure  you  wnll  get  this  by  heart. 


TO  HIS  SON. 

London,  22d  October,  1783. 
My  dear  Harry  : 

I    am    "waiting  with    great   impatience  for  two    letters  from 

you,  which  your  uncles  have  informed   me   are  on  their  passage, 

but  as  there  is  a  very  favorable  opportunity  for  New-York  this 

week,  I  will  not  delay  writing  you.  By  the  Edward,  Captain  Cou- 

par,  I  send  some  little  books  for  your  brother  and  sister,  which 


220  THELIFEOF 

you  will  divide  between  them  as  you  think  most  suitable,  and  I 
trust  you  will  make  the  gift  of  use  to  the  little  ones,  by  your  com- 
ments and  explanations.  Doctus  doctior  Jit,  docendo — this  I  have 
either  read,  or  heard,  or  dreamed,  no  matter  which.  Upon  the 
subject  of  books,  I  could  wish  you  would  make  a  little  catalogue 
of  such  as  you  would  wish  to  have  in  your  library. 

Have  you  read  any  part  of  Mr.  Pope's  works  1  I  mean  to  send 
you,  or  take  over  with  me  for  you,  a  complete  set  of  all  his  works, 
including  his  noble  translations  of  Homer,  which  I  hope  you  have 
read,  at  least  in  part,  before  this  time.  Apropos,  I  wish  you  would 
read  Pope's  Temple  of  Fame,  in  which  you  will  see  the  distinguish- 
ed rank  bestowed  upon  Homer,  Virgil,  Tully,  &c.  The  design, 
conduct,  and  moral  of  this  beautiful  poem,  may  perhaps  want  some 
explanations  ;  after  which,  I  am  sure  you  will  be  delighted  with  it. 
The  descriptions  of  the  great  and  venerable  Homer,  of  the  modest 
and  amiable  Virgil,  and  of  the  graceful  and  elegant  Tully,  I  am 
sure  will  be  so  pleasing  that  you  will  get  them  by  heart.  When 
you  have  considered  the  characters  of  the  various  candidates  for 
fame,  you  will  easily  conceive,  my  dearest  boy,  mwhich  class  I  would 
wish  to  rank  you.  Read  with  attention  the  eight  hnes  beginning 
at  line  489.  The  idea  of  this  allegorical  poem  was  taken  from  the 
beginning  of  the  12th  Book  of  Ovid's  Metamorphoses — Orhi  locus 
medio  est,  &c.  You  and  your  cousin  Francis  should  read  these  things 
together,  after  first  having  read  them  separately  by  yourselves. 

Have  you  read  any  of  Shakspeare's  plays  ?  There  are  many 
things  in  them  with  which  you  will  not  be  pleased,  but  you  must 
remember  that  he  lived  a  great  while  ago,  and  that  many  of  his 
faults  are  properly  owing  to  the  vicious  taste  of  the  age  he  lived 
in.  Hear  what  Addison  says  of  him  :  "  Shakspeare  was  born  with 
all  the  seeds  of  poetry,  and  may  be  compared  to  the  stone  in  Pyrrhus' 
ring,  which,  as  Pliny  tells  us,  had  the  figure  of  Apollo  and  the  nine 
muses  in  the  veins  of  it,  produced  by  the  spontaneous  hand  of  na- 
ture, without  any  help  of  art."  Spectator,  No  398.  Is  not  this  a 
beautiful  simile,  and  true  as  beautiful  ?  I  hope  I  do  not  iceary  you 
with  my  observations.  You  must  consider  that  in  all  I  do,  I  have 
your  happiness  and  your  reputation  in  view — they  are  both  very 
near  my  heart.  I  hope  you  will  hereafter  say  of  me  what  Horace 
says  of  his  father  (as  I  once  before  hinted,)  insuevit  pater  optimus 
hoc  me,  &c. 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  221 

Your  next  anrl  future  letters  I  hope  will  bo  written  in  your 
closet  by  yourself,  aud  without  bein^j;  overlooked  by  any  one. 
When  you  sit  down  to  write  to  lue,  (lor  which  1  am  sure  your 
worthy  tutor  will  <i;ive  you  a  holiday,)  you  must  draw  oil"  your 
thou<i,hts  from  every  thing  else,  and  collect  and  confine  them  en- 
tirely to  the  subject  you  are  upon.  Then  ask  yourself:  "  What  can 
I  say  that  will  be  acceptable  to  my  papa  ?  What  account  can  I  give 
of  myself  that  will  be  pleasing  to  this  dearest  and  best  of  friends? 
How  shall  I  make  him  a  return  for  all  the  anxiety  he  suffers  on 
my  account,  and  for  all  the  pains  he  takes  to  promote  my  welfare  ?" 
If  you  proceed  in  this  self-examination,  you  may  ask  :  "  Have  I  any 
faulty  disposition  which  would  make  him  unhappy  ?  If  so,  I  will 
from  this  moment  begin  to  amend  it ;  and  if  another  Zopyrus  should 
tell  me  of  my  natural  imperfections,  I  will,  like  Socrates,  convince 
him  that  I  can  overcome  them."  Ask  yourself  also  :  "  W^hat  books 
have  I  been  reading,  and  what  account  can  I  give  of  them  ?  are 
there  not  some  passages  that  are  particularly  excellent,  and  would 
afford  pleasure  to  my  papa  ?" 

Do  not  be  afraid  of  being  thought  pedantic  when  you  are  writing 
to  me,  though  I  would  not  have  you  talk  Latin  and  Greek  when 
you  are  with  people  who  do  not  understand  them.  When  you  talk 
to  your  neighbors,  who  are  farmers,  you  may  tell  them  how  hus- 
bandry was  carried  on  in  Virgil's  time,  but  do  not  quote  the 
Georgics  to  them.  By  the  w^ay,  do  you  not  often  read  the  first 
Eclogue  wnth  peculiar  sensibility,  when  you  think  of  the  public 
troubles  ?  W^ho  will  be  the  happy  man  of  whom  it  shall  be  said, 
Deus  nobis  hcec  otia  fecit ! 

Kiss  your  dear  brother  and  sweet  sister  for  me,  and  tell  them 
how  much  I  will  love  them  if  they  are  good.     J\Iy  love  to  your 
grandmamma  and  all  friends.     I  am,  my  dearest  Harry, 
Your  truly  affectionate  father  and  friend, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

TO  HIS  SON. 

London,  Sth  December,  1783. 
My  dear  Harry  : 

I  have  already  filled  one  sheet  of  paper,  but  such  is  the  pleasure 
I  have  in  writing  to  you,  that  I  must  trespass  on  your  patience  (of 


222  THE     LIFE     OF 

which  I  hope  you  have  a  great  fund)  still  farther.  You  have 
obliged  me  much  by  mentioning  the  bodily  exercises  and  amuse- 
ments you  take  most  delight  in.  These,  properly  used,  will  make 
you  relish  your  studies,  while  they  conduce  to  your  health.  Mens 
Sana  in  corpore  sano,  is  what  I  most  sincerely  wish  you.  In  the 
spring  you  shall  have  a  very  handsome  fowling-piece ;  but  as  to 
warlike  implements,  what  can  you  want  with  them  ?  Remember 
it  is  now  peace. 

"  The  shady  empire  shall  retain  no  trace 
Of  war  or  blood,  but  in  the  sylvan  chase  ; 
The  trumpet  sleeps,  while  cheerful  horns  are  blown, 
And  arms  employed  on  birds  and  beasts  alone." 

Windsor  Forest. 

I  will,  however,  let  you  have  a  bayonet  for  your  better  defence 
or  offence,  in  case  you  should  have  to  encounter  a  bear,  though  I 
own  I  would  rather  you  should  decline  such  a  contest. 

I  have  once  before  told  you,  that  when  you  convinced  me  that 
you  knew  the  value  of  time,  you  should  have  a  watch,  and  I  take 
for  granted  that  will  be  very  soon.  Never  be  in  a  hurry,  especially 
when  you  write  to  me.  Your  letters  will  be  more  or  less  valuable 
to  me,  in  proportion  as  they  are  written  with  pleasure  to  yourself; 
and  that  pleasure  I  shall  infer,  not  so  much  from  their  length  as 
their  correctness ;  for  what  we  take  pleasure  in,  we  take  pains 
about,  and,  vice  versa,  what  we  take  no  pains  about,  is  fairly 
■  to  be  considered  rather  as  an  unwilling  act  of  duty,  than  as  a  free- 
will offering  of  the  heart.  While  I  was  writing  this  letter,  I 
received  one  from  your  uncle  David,  which  gives  me  a  very  pleas- 
ing account  of  you,  and  my  heart  beats  with  joy  on  the  occasion. 
Go  on,  my  dear  boy,  in  the  improvement  of  your  mind,  and  the 
amendment  of  your  temper,  and  you  will  make  me  the  happiest  of 
men.  Have  you  ever  read  the  choice  of  Hercules  ? — it  is  in  the 
Prseceptor. 

I  will  try  to  get  time  to  write  BLck  a  letter,  since  the  young 
gentleman  is  determined  to  stand  upon  ceranony  with  me.  Our 
sweet  little  Betsey  I  will  also  think  of  very  soon.  Do  you  see  her 
often,  and  what  does  she  say  of  me  1  Tell  her  how  much  I  love 
her.     If  you  could  get  somebody  to  take  the  profdes  of  all  three 


PETEU      VAN     SCHAACK.  223 

of  you,  I  shoulil  be  f^Iad  to  liave  ihiiii.     God  AIini<^lily  bless  you 
all,  liiy  dearest  ehildren  !   and  believe  me, 

Your  most  afTcctionatc  father, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

TO   HIS  SON. 

London,  20th  February^  1784. 
My  dear  Harry  : 

I  was  made  very  happy  by  your  most  agreeable  letter  of  the 
11th  Nov.  If  you  receive  half  the  pleasure  from  my  letters,  that 
yours  give  me,  how  punctual  and  constant  ought  our  correspond- 
ence to  be  I  What  a  pleasing  intercourse  must  that  be,  in  which 
the  ties  of  natural  affection  are  strengthened  by  those  of  acquired 
friendship,  where  duty  and  inclination  go  hand  in  hand,  and  where 
the  heart  accompanies  the  mutual  good  offices  between  parent  and 
child  ! 

No  one  of  your  letters,  my  dearest  boy,  has  given  me  so  much 
heartfelt  pleasure  as  the  one  I  am  now  answering ; — not  because 
it  is  the  most  correct,  for  I  will  candidly  own  to  you,  that  it  is  in 
that  respect  a  little  faulty — do  not  let  that  discourage  you  ;  but  I 
value  it  because  I  have  discovered  in  it  some  parts  of  your  disposi- 
tion which  give  me  great  satisfaction.  The  ingenuous  frankness 
with  which  you  confess  some  imperfections  in  your  temper,  your 
so  readily  declaring  the  preference  in  this  respect  in  favor  of  your 
dear  brother,  your  bearing  reproof  with  so  much  patience,  and 
taking  so  much  pleasure  that  any  body  speaks  well  of  you,  are 
such  strong  marks  not  only  of  a  good  heart,  but  of  a  sound  under- 
standing, that  I  indulge  myself  in  the  most  sanguine  expectations 
of  your  becoming  all  I  could  wish  you  to  be.  Thus  have  you  in 
this  letter  done  what  I  wished  of  you,  drawn  your  own  character, 
though  without  being  conscious  of  it  at  the  time.  Do  not  be  dis- 
couraged that  your  temper  is  not  naturally  as  even  as  that  of 
some  of  your  companions  :  you  will  have  more  merit  in  over- 
coming your  imperfections,  than  if  you  had  none  to  contend  with — 
hie  labor,  hoc  opus.  Once  more  recollect  the  story  of  Socrates  and 
Zopyrus,  and  make  the  practical  inferences  from  it. 

I  am  much  pleased  with  your  speaking  so  tenderly  and  affec- 
tionately of  our  sweet  little  Betsey,  as  well  as  of  Buck.     You  must 


224  THE     LIFE     OF 

continue  to  love  and  take  care  of  them,  my  dear  Harry.  Con- 
sider what  pleasure  it  will  give  me  when  I  see  them,  to  hear  them 
tell  me  how  good  you  have  been  to  them.  Poor  Buck  !  I  hope  the 
pain  in  his  breast  has  not  returned.  Tell  him  he  must  take  care 
of  himself,  when  the  swimming  time  comes  on.  I  hope  you  go  to 
see  him  often.  When  you  cannot  get  a  good  horse,  I  hope  you  do 
not  mind  walking  it;  even  your  cousin  Harry  Walton,  though  of 
a  delicate  constitution,  takes  much  longer  walks.  I  shall  send 
you  a  gun  to  be  your  companion.  Do  not  overheat  yourself,  nor 
drink  cold  water  when  you  are  heated,  and  exercise  will  be  of  use 
to  you.  Have  you  ever  read  of  the  Peripatetic  philosophers  ? 
You  must  become  one  of  that  sect,  and  think  and  philosophize  as 
you  walk.  I  often  flatter  myself  that  you  make  me  the  subject  of 
your  meditations,  w^hen  you  take  your  excursions.  Believe  me 
you  are  seldom  out  of  my  thoughts,  especially  when  I  see  any 
thing  which  I  think  would  give  you  pleasure.  W^hen  we  meet,  I 
will  give  you  a  journal  of  all  my  travels.  W^hen  you  go  out  with 
your  gun,  I  hope  you  w^ill  use,  not  abuse  it.  Never  kill  poor  birds 
w^antonly.  Why  should  you  rob  these  poor  creatures  of  life  unless 
it  is  for  some  useful  purpose,  such  as  food  1  Think  of  what  Shak- 
speare  says : 

"  The  poor  beetle  that  we  tread  upon, 
In  corporal  sufferance  feels  a  pang  as  great 
As  when  a  Giant  dies." 

What  a  tender  sentiment  is  conveyed  in  these  lines  !  They  put 
me  in  mind  of  a  stanza  in  Dr.  Goldsmith's  little  poem  : 

"  No  flocks  that  tread  the  valleys  free, 
To  slaughter  I  condemn  • 
Taught  by  that  Power  that  pities  me 
I  learn  to  pity  them.'' 

Let  me  recommend  a  little  allegory,  in  a  book  I  send  you,  entitled 
The  Speaker,  p.  30,  upon  pity — there  are  some  inimitable  beauties 
in  it. 

1  shall  send  you  four  or  five  volumes  of  books,  which  will  be 
of  use  and  amusement  to  you.  Make  a  present  of  one  set  to  your 
companion  Francis ;  no  matter  which  of  them,  as  you  can  mu- 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  225 

tually  let  each  other  have  the  reading  of  the  one,  or  the  other,  as  you 
find  yourselves  disposed. 

Farewell  !  my  dear  ITarry.  Present  my  duty  to  your  grand- 
mamma anil  my  love  to  all  friends.  To  Buck  and  Betsey,  say  a 
great  many  tender  things  for  me. 

I  am  your  truly  affectionate 

Father  and  friend, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 
Pray  imitate  your  uncle   Silvester  in  every  thing  but   his  man- 
ner of  folding  his  letters. 

TO  HIS  SON. 

London^  1th  Marchy  1784. 
My  DEar  Harry  : 

I  have  already  written  to  you  by   Capt.  Barnwell,  who  sails 
this  day.     I  will  add  a  few  lines  by   Mr.  Bogardus,  who  embarks 
in  a  few  days.     He  carries  for  you  a  gold  watch,  which  I  trust  will 
be  an  acceptable  present.  It  is  fit  for  any  gentleman's  pocket,  or  I 
would  not  send  it  to  you  ;  for  that  character,  my  dear  boy,  I  hope 
you  will  always  maintain.     I  hope   you  have  too  much  sense  to 
feel  any  vanity  upon  this  occasion,  or  to  give  yourself  any  airs  in 
consequence  of  your  having  any  ornament,  which  your  companions 
have  not.     If  I  could  suppose  you  so  silly,  or  so  cruel,  for  it  is  the 
lieight  of  cruelty  to  exult  over  others,  because  fortune  has  been 
kinder  to  you  than  to  them,  (which  ought  rather  to  excite  your 
gratitude,)  I  would  never  send  you  any  thing  else  of  this  kind,  and 
regret  that  I  had  sent  this.     But,  I  trust,  my  dearest  Harry,  that 
1  shall  hear  no  such  account  of  you.     Take  pleasure  but  not  pride 
in  it.     Put  it  to  its  proper  use,  but  do  nc)t  make  it  an  instrument  of 
vanity.     Wear  it  as  if  you  had  been  accustomed  to  it,  and  with  the 
same  ease  that  you  wear  an  old  coat,  or  an  old  pair  of  shoebuckles. 
Do  not  often  look  into  the  inside,  and  wind  it  up  carefully  at  a 
particular  hour,  suppose  at  the  meridian  hour  of  twelve. 

I  promised  you  last  year  (and  I  will  never  break  my  promise) 
that  when  you  should  get  an  idea  of  the  value  of  time,  I  would 
send  you  a  time-piece.  Your  uncle  and  aunt  Silvester  give  me  so 
favorable  an  account  of  you, — 1,  as  to  the  amendment  of  your  tem- 
per,— 2,  as  to  your  readiness  to  receive  and  to  profit  by  advice, — 3,, 

29 


226  THE      LIFE      OF 

as  to  your  being  free  from  any  vicious  habits — and,  4,  as  to  your 
application  to  your  studies,  that  I  am  happy  on  this  occasion  of 
at  once  fulfilUng  my  promise,  and  of  doing  justice  to  your  deserts. 

I  could  say  much  to  you  upon  the  benefits  of  making  a  right  use 
of  time,  and  the  miserable  consequences  of  neglecting  or  misspending 
it.  Look  at  your  watch  and  you  will  see  that  time  is  continually 
going  on,  and  never  stands  still — tempus  irrevocahile  fugit.  If 
you  do  not  therefore  improve  the  present  moment,  it  is  gone  for- 
ever, and  cannot  be  recalled.  I  do  not  by  any  means  wish  you  to 
be  always  at  your  books.  No,  enjoy  your  juvenile  amusements, 
be  cheerful,  and  indulge  the  innocent  gayety  of  your  disposition,  at 
the  proper  seasons.  Solomon  says  there  is  a  time  for  every  thing. 
But  when  you  are  at  your  studies,  when  you  are  employed  in 
writing  to  me,  then  draw  off  your  attention  from  play,  and  give  it 
entirely  to  the  subject  you  are  upon.  Be  assured,  however  diffi- 
cult this  may  be  at  first,  a  little  practice  will  soon  make  it  easy  to 
you.  Having  passed  the  day  in  this  proper  division  of  your  time 
between  study  and  amusement,  you  will  lay  your  head  on  the  pil- 
low, with  the  pleasing  reflections  of  the  mens  sibi  conscia  recti. 
Your  watch  will  greatly  assist  you  in  the  distribution  of  the  four 
and  twenty  hours,  and  will  enable  you  to  be  punctual  without  hur- 
rying yourself.  I  hope  you  rise  early  in  the  morning,  which  will 
greatly  conduce  to  your  health.  The  whole  creation  then  appears 
in  its  most  beautiful  form,  and  seems  to  offer  incense  to  the  great 
Author  of  all  thino-s.  When  you  behold  the  works  of  nature 
around  you,  you  cannot  surely  avoid  carrying  your  thoughts  to- 
wards the  Creator.  How  infinitely  powerful  that  Being  who  could 
call  all  these  things  into  existence  out  of  nothing,  or  out  of  chaos.* 

\our  last  letter  was  a  very  agreeable  one,  though  not  very  cor- 
rect. You  say  you  had  no  time  to  copy  it :  but  why  then  did  you 
not  write  it  sooner,  as  you  knew  your  uncle  Cruger  was  coming 
away  1  You  should  not  wait  for  an  opportunity,  but  prepare  your 
letters  at  perfect  leisure.  Resolve  to  devote  a  certain  time  to  me, 
go  into  a  room  by  yourself,  and  there  considtr  what  subject  you 
are  to  write  upon,  and  if  you  do  not  please  yourself,  blot  out  and 
alter  your  letters  till  they  are  to  your  liking.  If  in  your  reading 
you  meet  with  any  thing  very  striking,  make  a  quotation  of  it.     If 

*  Ovid.     Metam.  B.  I. 


PETER      VAN     S  C  H  A  A  C  k'  .  227 

3-ou  find  any  Ihinf^  cloublfiil  or  exceptionable,  state  some  questions 
upon  it,  and  I  will  answer  them.  \Vhat  is  your  opinion  of  Brutus 
in  putting  Caesar  to  deatli  ?  Wh.it  do  you  think  ot"  the  friendiihip 
of  Damon  and  Pythias? 

In  the  books  I  have  sent  you  by  Capt.  George  Barnwell^  you 
"vvill  find  many  pretty  tilings  to  anuise  and  employ  your  thoughts. 
Above  all  J  could  wish  you  to  read  the  story  of  Le  Fevre,  but  it  is 
written  in  such  a  singular  sort  of  style,  and  with  so  many  breaks, 
that  you  will  find  it  a  httle  difTicult  at  first  to  read  it  properly. 
Uncle  Toby  is  an  old  wounded  ofliicer,  who  had  spent  his  life  in 
camps,  and  whose  language  upoji  every  subject  has  a  tincture  of 
his  profession,  and  Corporal  Trim,  who  had  served  with  him  in 
the  field,  accompanied  his  worthy  master  in  his  retirement,  where 
they  employed  their  time  in  erecting  and  demolishing  fortifications, 
and  "fought  their  battles  o'er  again."  Philanthropy*  was  the 
noble  characteristic  of  both  these  veterans,  and  the  tale  of  distress 
ever  found  its  way  to  their  sympathetic  hearts.  Generous  pair! 
how  do  we  admire  them  amidst  all  their  little  peculiarities.  I  re- 
member I  accidentally  met  with  this  little  story  when  I  was  about 
your  age,  and  it  made  such  an  impression  on  me  as  has  never  been 
effaced.     Read  it,  my  dear  boy,  and  pity  poor  little  Le  Fevre. 

You  see  by  the  length  of  this  letter  that  I  never  know  how  to 

break  off  when  I  am  w^riting  to  you.     I  am  almost  always  think- 

in<7  of  YOU,  and  writino;  seems  to  be  a  substitute  for  that  conversa- 

tion  which,  when  we  meet,  will  be  my  delight.     Our  dear  Buck 

and  sweet  Betsey — take  care  of  them  and  be  a  guardian  to  them, 

my  dear  Harry.     May  God  bless  you  all  three,  prays  your  most 

affectionate 

Father  and  friend, 

P.  V.  S. 

TO  HIS  SON. 

London,  \2th  June,  17S4. 
My  dear  Harry  : 

I  wrote  you  a  few  lines  soon  after  the  receipt  of  your  agreea- 
ble favor  of  the  15th  April,  and  my  letter,  which  I  intended  should 
have  gone  by  a  private  ship,  was  put  into  the  mail  of  this  month, 

*  "  ^i).iit)  and  ay&Qbj7Tcq. 


228  THE     LIFE     OF 

addressed  to  Mr.  Hoffman's  care.  Your  letter  afforded  me  great 
pleasure,  not  only  for  its  correctness,  but  for  one  or  two  passages 
in  it,  which  show  that  you  are  a  gentleman  of  delicate  sentiments 
and  genuine  refinement.  Your  injunction  of  secrecy  shall  be  in- 
violably observed.  Whenever  you  do  me  the  honor  of  placing  a 
confidence  in  me,  you  will  find  that  I  understand  the  importance 
of  the  trust.  You  must  continue  to  treat  me  with  the  unreserved 
frankness  of  true  friendship,  as  I  certainly  shall  you.  I  expect  to 
derive  great  benefit  from  your  opinions  when  I  see  you,  as  I  shall 
consult  you  upon  all  occasions  relative  to  myself  as  well  as  to  you. 
1  would  take  great  pleasure  in  sending  you  books,  if  I  knew 
what  sort  of  reading  you  are  most  inclined  to.  In  the  great  vari- 
ety, it  is  difficult  to  make  a  choice.  I  am  afraid  you  do  not  ap- 
prove of  my  referring  you  to  so  many  authors,  but  remember,  I  do 
not  suppose  you  can  read  them  all  at  once;  it  does  not  therefore 
follow,  that  my  references  may  not,  at  one  time  or  another,  prove 
of  some  use  to  you ;  besides,  I  have  as  yet  pointed  out  select  pas- 
sages only,  which  it  would  not  take  up  more  than  a  few  minutes 
to  peruse.  Am  I  too  vain  in  supposing  that  you  do  not  destroy 
my  letters?  I  will  indulge  this  idea.  It  might  not  be  amiss  for 
you  to  make  short  notes,  e.  g.  [Exempli  gratia)  : 

"  Select  passages  of  authors  recommended  by  my  father  for  my 
perusal,  and  which  I  will  refer  to,  whenever  I  can  procure  the 
books  which  contain  them,  that  I  may  derive  that  benefit  from 
them,  which  his  parental  love  and  anxious  concern  for  my  welfare 
had  in  view,  and  which  I  am  confident  will  be  the  best  return  for 
all  his  care  and  trouble.  H.  C.  V.  S. 

Pope — Essay  on  Man — Epistle  I.  Exordium — ib.  v.  82.  v.  99,  &c. 

Epistle,  B.  III.  V.  147. 
Epistle  B.  IV.  V.  1.— v.  361. 

Temple  of  Fame,  v.  178  to  244,  v.  276  to 

Shakspeare — Measure  for  Measure — act  —  scene  — 

Merchant  of  Venice, 
Hamlet — per  totum.^^ 

Something  of  the  above  sort  might  be  improved  into  a  method  that 
would  be  of  advantage  to  you  upon  other  occasions.  If  you  thought 
my  letters  deserved  it,  I  should  think  it  a  very  high  honor  done  me, 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  229 

if  you  had  a  little  MS.*  Bonk,  with  some  such  title  as  this — "  Ob- 
servations of  my  father,  occasionally  made  in  the  course  of  his  let- 
ters to  me,  upon  the  followini^  subjects,  from  which  I  have  already 
derived  consitlerable  benefit,  and  which  I  am  determined  still  far- 
ther to  improve  upon  by  readinij^,  as  well  as  by  my  own  reflections, 
viz.  Upon  Happiness — Philanthropy — Benevolence — Candor — 
Charity — Cheerfulness — Good  nature — Affability  —  Friendship — 
Choice  of  companions — Habit  of  attention — Presence  of  mind — • 
Self-possession." 

I  do  assure  you,  my  dear  Harry,  it  is  not  my  intention  to  over- 
burthen  your  mind,  or  to  deprive  you  of  your  recreations.  Were 
I  with  you,  I  might  divide  the  subjects  I  intend  for  your  use  in  such 
a  manner  as  would  make  them  more  easy ;  but  at  such  a  distance 
I  cannot  avoid  crowding  them  together ;  but  as  you  do  not  receive 
a  letter  from  me  every  day,  and  I  hope  you  do  not  think  it  irksome 
to  read  them  more  than  once,  you  must  take  up  my  observations 
separately,  and  at  your  leisure.  Do  not  think  I  shall  expect  too 
much  of  you  :  let  me  only  fmd  you  a  virtuous  youth,  free  from  bad 
habits,  and  I  will  be  satisfied.  I  long  to  hear  from  you  after  be- 
ing at  Barrington,  where  I  hope  little  Betsey  is  settled  to  your 
liking,  and  in  a  manner  you  approve.  Your  tenderness  towards 
her  and  your  brother  rejoices  my  heart,  and  I  was  delighted  with 
your  expression — "  Fine  children,  I  wish  you  would  write  them 
each  a  short  letter."  These  are  your  own  words,  and  charming 
words  to  me  they  are — decies  repetita  placehunt !  Oar  little  Betsey, 
my  dear  Harry,  must  have  a  double  share  of  your  attention.  Let 
me  quote  two  tender  lines  applicable  to  both  you  and  me. 

*'  The  name  th'  indulgent /o^/terf  doubly  lov'd, 
For  in  the  child  the  mother's  worth  improved." 

I  think  I  left  Goldsmith's  Roman  History  at  Kinderhook  ;  if  so, 
I  hope  you  have  given  it  a  reading.  You  will  also  find  Stanyan's 
Grecian  History,  which  you  should  look  into.  These  celebrated 
republics  you  should  begin  to  form  some  acquaintance  with.  I 
shall  probably  send  you  Plutarch's  Lives,  which  will  make  the 
great  characters  of  antiquity  known  to  you.     Stanyan  was  given 

♦  Manuscript.  \   Brother. 


230  THE     LIFE      OF 

me  at  college,  as  a  premium  at  a  public  examination ;  so  was  a 
set  of  the  Belles-Lettres,  which  I  left  for  you. 

Have  you  ever  dipped  into  Homer,  and  do  you  know  any  thing 
about  Achilles,  Nestor,  Ulysses,  Tydides,  Ajax,  &c.,  and  Priam, 
Hector,  ^neas,  &c.  ?  Apropos,  I  wish  you  would  once  more  read 
the  first  Eclogue  of  Virgil,  which  is  so  suitable  to  the  times.  When 
you  read  the  fourth,  turn  to  Pope's  Messiah. 

I  am  much  concerned  about  your  toothache,  my  dearest  Harry ; 
I  will  send  you  some  powder.  At  present  I  can  only  recommend 
your  keeping  your  teeth  perfectly  clean  by  rinsing  your  mouth 
often,  especially  after  your  meals.  Do  not  drink  any  thing  hot, 
nor  rub  your  teeth  too  much.  A  soft  brush  rubbed  up  and  down 
between  the  teeth  will  answer  the  purpose.  Get  a  little  bark 
finely  powdered,  and  use  that  with  your  brush.  Doctor  Van  Dyck 
wnll  tell  you,  that  bark  is  an  excellent  antiseptic.  Do  you  know 
the  history  of  the  discovery  of  this  excellent  medicine,  the  bark  7 
and  do  you  know  who  the  Jesuits  were,  whose  name  it  bears  ? 

Heaven  preserve  you,  my  boy  !     Kiss  the  little  ones  for  me. 
Yours  most  affectionately  and  most  tenderly, 

P.  V.  S. 

TO  HIS  SON. 

London,  2bih  JVor.,  1784. 
My  dear  Son  : 

I  have  read  your  several  letters  of  the  21st  July,  3d  September, 
and  one  without  date,  with  sincere  pleasure,  but  great  emotion. 
My  dear  boy  !  how  have  you  touched  my  feelings  by  your  aflfecting 
description  of  the  parting  scene  between  you  and  your  dear  brother 
and  sister !  I  am  now  not  less  proud,  than  I  have  always  been 
fond  of  you.  I  perceive  that  you  have  not  only  a  manly  genius, 
but  a  heart  filled  with  the  most  amiable  sensibility.  What  you 
say  about  my  long  absence,  my  dear  Harry,  endears  you  more  than 
ever  to  me.  Believe  me,  it  is  a  heart-breaking  affair  to  me,  but  be 
assured  at  the  same  time,  that  I  will  fully  satisfy  you  of  the  neces- 
sity of  it — as  such  we  must  submit ;  but  I  trust  that  next  May,  I 
shall  have  no  obstruction  to  my  embarking  for  my  dear  native 
country.  A  winter  passage  I  cannot  think  of,  and  my  friends 
surely  would  not  wish  me  to  undertake  it. 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  23 1 

The  manner  in  \vliieli  you  speak  of  your  Kinderhoc^k  friends, 
my  dear  Harry,  f]i;oes  to  my  liearl.  (iod  grant  1  may  have  it  in 
my  power  to  return  thcin  llie  thanivS  of  a  warm  and  grateful  heart 
for  their  kinchiess  to  you.  Vou  nuist  often  write  to  them.  \Vh;it 
you  say  of  David  V.  A.  makes  me  love  him  a  thousand  times  more 
than  ever.  The  charaeter  you  give  of  him  pleases  me  beyond 
expression.     My  godson  has  also  my  tender  remend)rance. 

I  am  very  mueh  pleased  with  what  you  say  of  JMajor  Goes. 
Enmity  I  bear  not  against  him  or  any  other  person  whatsoever. 
The  late  civil  war  was  a  great  national  calamity,  and  no  one  had 
a  right  to  expect  an  exemption  from  a  share  of  it.  I  have  often 
had  my  fears  lest  you  might  have  taken  up  prejudices  and  resent- 
ments, on  account  of  what  you  might  have  thought  ill  treatment  of 
me,  but  I  am  happy  to  fmd  that  you  have  too  much  liberality  in 
your  way  of  thinking,  to  be  warped  by  any  partial  considerations, 
in  a  case  of  such  great  and  extensive  concern.  A  civil  war  implies 
in  the  very  idea  of  it,  every  enormity  which  the  human  heart  is 
capable  of.  Read  those  in  the  Roman  history,  even  in  the  most 
polished  times,  and  you  will  not  wonder  at  any  thing  that  has  hap- 
pened in  your  own  country.  The  contest  is  now  at  an  end,  and  to 
pour  balm  into  the  yet  bleeding  wounds  of  our  countiy,  should  be 
the  object  of  every  good  citizen,  of  whatever  party  he  mai/  have 
been.  Pray  read  No.  125  and  12G,  in  the  second  volume  of  the 
Spectator,  very  attentively. 

I  hope  you  will  not  get  into  any  warm  arguments  on  political 
subjects.  *  If  you  should  hear  me,  or  any  of  your  other  fiiends 
censured,  evade  any  altercation  by  saying  it  is  a  delicate  subject  as 
it  affects  your  feelings,  and  too  complicated  a  one  for  you  to 
comprehend  it;  that  you  can  only  answer  for  the  integrity  of  your 
friends,  but  if  they  have  not  been  blessed  with  abilities  equal  to 
those  who  censure  them,  it  was  their  misfortune,  not  their  fault. 
^Vith  something  like  this  I  would  have  you  avoid  disputes. 

By  the  by,  of  arguing,  there  is  a  paper  in  one  of  the  volumes 
of  the  Spectator,  I  think  the  third,  which  I  would  have  you  read 
over  and  over  again.  Young  gentlemen  are  fond  of  showing  their 
talents  in  this  way,  as  well  as  in  railleiy,  and  making  a  butt  of 
some  one  in  company.  Let  me  beseech  you,  my  dearest  llarrv,  to 
take  care  how  you  attempt  to  use  these  edge  tools.     The  limits  of 


232  THE      LIFE     OF 

a  letter  will  not  allow  me  to  be  explicit  on  these  subjects,  by  giv- 
ing you  my  sentiments  which  have  arisen  from  experience  and 
observation.  When  we  meet,  you  will  find  1  hope  that  my  absence 
has  not  been  altogether  useless  to  you.  If  my  acquirements  (such 
as  they  are)  can  conduce  to  your  benefit,  their  most  valuable  pur- 
pose will  be  answered.  Meanwhile  examine  yourself,  nosce  te 
IPSUM.  Acquire  a  habit  of  attention,  so  that  you  may  be  able  to 
abstract  your  thoughts  from  every  other  subject  but  that  you  are 
upon.  Endeavor  to  obtain  a  presence  of  mind,  a  self-possession, 
which  will  enable  you  to  attend  to  what  is  said  in  company  with- 
out being  confused  or  embarrassed.  Above  all,  my  dear  Harry, 
be  not  discouraged  if  some  of  your  companions  outshine  you  in 
conversation.  Be  assured  your  talents  only  w^ant  to  be  cultivated, 
and  that  depends  on  yourself  If  you  have  acquired  any  thing  of 
the  Dutch  accent,  try  to  get  rid  of  it.  Our  country  people  pro- 
nounce the  letter  e  like  the  a.  By  attending  to  this  you  will 
soon  overcome  it.     The  th  is  another  dilBculty  with  them. 

I  am  glad  you  have  seen  Mr.  Jay.  You  must  never  decline 
any  opportunity  of  being  with  him,  and  when  you  have  been  in 
his  company,  recollect  at  your  leisure  every  thing  he  has  said,  and 
every  expression  he  has  used ;  he  speaks  with  more  elegance  and 
correctness  than  almost  any  man  I  know,  and  his  abilities  are  won- 
derful. Call  upon  him  with  my  compliments,  and  tell  him  I  have 
received  his  letters  of  the  3d  September  and  6th  October,  and  that 
I  shall  pay  due  attention  to  them ;  that  I  will  write  to  him  as  soon 
as  any  thing  occurs  in  the  business  he  writes  about  worthy  his 
notice.  You  will  add,  that  I  am  but  just  returned  from  Yorkshire, 
where  I  have  spent  three  months. 

Apropos,  to  convince  you  how  much  I  have  your  w^elfare  at 
heart,  should  you  ever  come  to  England,  you  will  come  into  a 
pretty  large  circle  of  acquaintances,  for  to  every  valuable  connec- 
tion I  have  made  I  have  mentioned  you,  and  that  I  should  put  them 
in  mind  of  the  honor  they  had  conferred  on  me,  by  introducing  you 
to  them.  I  cannot  help  thinking,  my  dear  Harry,  that  if  you  and 
I  can  but  be  a  year  or  two  together,  and  you  will  but  cultivate 
your  own  mind,  you  will  enter  into  life  with  greater  advantages 
than  most  young  men.  Be  assured,  I  shall  treat  you  as  a  brother 
and  a  friend,  nor  shall  I  exercise  any  other  authority  over  you  than 


PETER      VAN      S  C  II  A  A  C  K  .  2.^3 

advice  and  'persuasion.  How  happy  is  it  in  your  power  to  make 
iiie  ! ! 

Give  me  some  account  of  tlic  collco^c,  your  studies,  hours  of 
attention — who  is  your  President  ? — a  clero;yman  I  suppose.  Pre- 
sent my  respectful  compHments  to  him,  and  pray  cultivate  his  good 
opinion  by  a  meritorious  deportment. 

Present  my  most  respectful  regards  to  your  uncle  Cruger,  and 
aunt  JNlary.  Write  to  Buck  and  Betsey,  and  tell  them  how  much 
1  love  them.  Let  your  aunt  Silvester  pay  my  duty  to  your  grand- 
mamma— in  short,  my  regards  to  all  friends.  Heaven  preserve 
you,  my  beloved  son  !  prays, 

Your  afTectionate  father  and  friend, 

P.  V.  SCHAACK. 

TO  HIS  SON. 

London,  29th  January,  17S5. 
]\Iy  dear  Harry  : 

Not  a  line  from  you  by  the  two  last  ships,  which  is  a  great 
mortification  to  me.  Surely  you  must  be  acquainted  with  the  time 
of  sailing  of  every  vessel  for  England,  by  means  of  some  one  or 
another  of  your  friends.  As  to  the  pickled  oysters  which  you  first 
intended  for  me,  and  the  peppers  and  nuts  for  which  you  changed 
that  plan — 

In  nova  fcrt  animus  viutatus  diccre  formas 
Corpora  

I  have  not  received  either  the  one  or  the  other,  nor  did  you  ever 
tell  me  whom  you  sent  them  by.  From  oysters  you  fwcended  to 
peppers  and  nuts,  and  from  peppers  and  nuts,  you  have  c/escended 
to  nothing.  Here  is  an  example  of  climax  and  anti-climax.  But, 
to  be  serious,  I  am  very  well  pleased  that  you  have  not  sent  me 
either,  as  the  trouble  and  expense  of  getting  on  shore  even  these 
trifles,  is  enormous.  So  make  yourself  easy  ;  only  write  to  me  and 
I  shall  be  contented.  But  pray  write  on  large  paper,  and  let  it  be 
a  single  sheet  to  save  postage,  for  every  scrap  of  paper  pays  as 
much  as  a  large  sheet.     This  is  entre  nous  and  pour  Vavenir. 

February  2d.  Your  letter  of  the  20th  November,  I  have  just 
received.  It  is  correct  in  the  articles  both  of  orthography  and 
grammar  5  but  you  seem  always  in  a  hurry,  my  dear  boy !    Write 

30 


23  1  THELIFEOF 

deliberately  ;  an  hour  or  two  by  your  watch  will  answer  the  pur- 
pose. Think,  I  repeat,  think  of  what  you  are  about.  Your  tender 
wishes  for  my  return  go  to  my  heart.  I  still  determine  to  go  in 
May.     Mr.  G.  W.  will  explain  this  matter  more  fully. 

You  must  wait  upon  I\Ir.  Mullet  and  ask  him  if  you  can  be  of 
any  service  to  him  in  delivering,  or  forwarding  any  of  his  letters, 
or  otherwise.  Inquire  about  your  uncle,  aunt,  and  cousins.  If 
either  of  the  Mr.  Watts'  are  civil  to  you,  take  some  opportunity  of 
telHng  them  that  you  will  be  happy  to  merit  the  good  opinion  of 
gentlemen,  for  whom  your  father  has  so  great  an  esteem-  How  is 
your  little  cousin  Eliza  ?  You  should  always  inquire  about  her  when 
you  are  at  Mr.  G.  W 's. ;  also  ask  about  Harry  Walton,  who  writes 
to  his  uncle  by  Mr.  Mullet.  Mr.  Outhout  will  probably  take  notice 
of  you  ;  if  so,  you  should  inquire  of  him  about  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Du- 
mont  as  my  most  particular  and  most  valuable  friends,  &c.  In 
short,  you  must  have  a  little  small  chat  as  well  as  learned  conver- 
sations. 

You  must  make  allowances  for  Mr.  Jay  from  his  public  character 
and  wonderful  engagements  in  business.  He  has  not  been  unmind- 
ful of  me,  I  assure  you.  He  does  more  than  he  professes.  He  is 
not  vox  et  prcBteiea  nihil.  Call  upon  him  again  and  tell  him  I 
have  succeeded  in  the  business  of  his  brother,  and  wish  to  hear 
from  him  on  the  subject.  I  have  written  by  the  packet  to  his 
brother  Frederic. 

Let  me  beseech  you  to  attend  to  all  these  matters.  Before  you 
go  out,  make  a  little  memorandum  of  where  you  are  to  call,  and 
the  heads  of  the  business  you  are  going  upon.  Attention  in  these 
matters,  my  dear  Harry,  small  as  they  are,  will  be  of  wonderful 
use  to  you.  May  Heaven  preserve  you  and  keep  you  virtuous  and 
good  !  is  the  prayer  of 

Your  affectionate  father  and  friend, 

P.  V.  S. 

"  Exile,  according  to  Plutarch,  was  a  blessing  which  the  muses 
bestowed  upon  their  favorites.  By  this  means  they  enabled  them 
to  complete  their  most  beautiful  and  noble  compositions." 

If  there  be  more  of  poetry  than  truth  in  the  first  branch  of  the 
foregoing  extract,  the  latter  part  of  it  at  least  will  be  admitted  to 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  235 

partake  less  of  fancy  than  of  fart.  If  the  ostracism  of  Tlmrydldrs 
was  the  cause  of  giving  his  celebrated  history  to  the  world  in 
ancient  days,  so  also  it  is  probable,  that  to  the  banishment  of  Mr. 
Van  Schaack  are  we  indebted  for  those  rich,  instructive  and  clas- 
sical letters,  which  in  the  two  preceding  chapters  are  placed  before 
the  public. 


236  THE     LIFE     OF 


CHAPTER    XI. 

Allusion  has  been  made,  in  a  former  part  of  this  work,  to  the 
fact,  that  during  his  residence  in  England,  Mr.  Van  Schaack  com- 
mitted to  paper  many  of  his  speculations  on  public  affairs.  A 
chapter  composed  of  extracts  from  his  political  diary,  will  probably 
be  deemed  sufficiently  curious  and  interesting,  if  not  valuable  for  its 
historical  features,  to  merit  a  place  in  this  work.  It  is  proper  to 
state,  that  these  notes,  which  commence  in  the  summer  of  1779, 
were  marked  by  him  as  being  "  crude  and  undigested,"  and  as 
"  intended  to  be  methodized." 

"  With  respect  to  the  disposition  of  the  people  about  politics, 
those  I  have  met  with  divide  into  the  following  classes.  1.  The 
opposition,  whether  from  attachment  to  the  Americans,  from  party 
enmity  to  ministry,  or  predilection  to  those  who  are  endeavoring 
to  get  into  power  ;  these  are  bent  upon  one  point  alone,  a  change, 
be  the  consequences  what  they  may,  and  I  verily  think  a  revolution 
would  be  more  eligible  to  them,  than  the  greatest  success  under 
the  management  of  this  administration.  2.  The  adherents  of  gov- 
ernment, who  think  themselves  bound  to  support  its  measures  as 
such,  though  they  do  not  strictly  approve  of  their  policy.  3.  A 
set  of  people,  who,  though  anti-ministerialists,  nevertheless  think 
the  times  too  serious  to  oppose  government,  and  who  would 
rather  the  ship  should  be  saved  by  the  present  pilots,  than  to  en- 
danger its  loss  merely  to  remove  them  from  the  helm.  4.  Such 
who  think  the  present  administration  incompetent,  but  that  bad 
would  be  made  worse  by  a  change.* 

♦  "Note.  1780. — With  respect  to  America,  there  are  but  few  who  think  a 
reconciliation  practicable  ;  others  who  are  friends  of  government  think  the 
war  must  be  persisted  in,  as  no  peace  ought  to  be  made  with  France  and 
Spain  in  the  present  comparative  state  of  their  navy,  although  they  consider 
the  American  cause  hopeless. 

"  The  Patriots  are  ior  withdrawing  the  troops  at  all  events." 


PETER     VAN     S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  237 

"  There  appears  to  be  a  general  kind  of  propensity  to  change 
their  governors,  if  not  the  government,  in  almost  every  part  of  the 
]^ritish  empire.  I  cannot  except  England,  much  less  Ireland,  and 
there  is  reason  to  think  it  very  prevalent  in  the  West  Indies. 
Perhaps  these  may  have  an  eye  to  an  easy  discharge  of  their  debts 
to  this  country.  What  originates  in  personal  animosity  to  a  minis- 
ter or  a  competition  for  places,  often  ripens  into  a  more  dangerous 
opposition ;  and  a  prince  should  perhaps  sacrifice  to  the  humors  of 
his  people  by  a  moderate  fluctuation  of  his  favors,  observing  a 
medium,  however,  which  will  avoid  the  appearance  of  unsteadiness, 
while  it  does  so  of  the  other  extreme  of  partiality  and  pertinacity.* 

"  In  a  comparative  view  of  the  merit  of  the  contending  parties,  / 
perhaps  there  will  be  no  great  scope  for  eulogium  on  the  superior 
virtue  of  either.  Personal  animosity,  family  pride,  party  spirit, 
anil  a  competition  for  offices,  seem  to  be  the  spring  of  action  com- 
mon to  both  sides.  The  minority  have  indeed  seen  verified  many 
of  their  predictions,  and  had  the  arguments  of  the  more  temperate 
part  of  them  been  attended  to,  many  evils  might  have  been  averted ; 
but  the  other  side  say,  those  very  predictions  (urged  in  the  manner 
they  have  been)  have  been  accomplished  by  means  of  those  who 
made  them ;  that  by  clogging  the  wheels  of  government,  they 
have  prevented  efficiency  to  measures  well  constructed  ;  that  taking 
side  with  every  one  who  mismanaged,  whether  in  the  land  or  navy 
departments,  they  have  afforded  protection  to  delinquents  and 
taken  away  the  fear  and  shame  of  doing  wrong.f 

"  I  have  no  doubt  but  generally,  almost  universally,  in  civil 
wars,  the  fault  is  originally  with  the  government.  The  people  are 
not  moved  without  cause,  though  they  carry  the  remedy  beyond  the 
injury,  and  it  is  true  that  they  often  keep  up  the  contest  after  the 
cause  subsides,  or  is  removed  ;  yet  their  perseverance  afterwards  is 
not  always  to  be  deemed  culpable.  This  is  one  of  the  evils  insepa- 
rable from  commotions  once  excited,  and  as  such  ought  to  be  a 
warning  to  rulers  to  prevent  them.    The  bulk  of  the  people  natu- 

*  "  Aug.  1779.  Note. — Since  this  remark  I  find  Lord  Littleton;  that  excel- 
lent man,  held  the  same  idea." 

t  •'  America  certainly  relied  on  the  parties  at  home.     Our  battles  were  to 

be  fought  here.    Dr.  F told  Mr.  G that  this  nation  was  so  distracted 

and  divided,  that  they  could  not  make  exertions  of  the  national  resources." 


l/t 


238  THE     LIFE     OF 

rally  acquiesce  in  the  proceedings  of  government.  The  motives 
in  which  society  originates,  and  by  which  its  bonds  are  cemented? 
seldom  lose  their  effect.  The  great  duty  of  government  is  to  con- 
sult the  good  of  the  people,  and  by  making  obedience  their  interest, 
they  will  insure  it.  Even  popular  prejudices  are  to  be  consulted, 
and  ought  to  have  their  w^eight.  How  willingly  people  submit  to 
practices  or  usages  calculated  for  the  common  benefit,  is  evident  in 
large  cities.  The  urbanity  in  the  city  of  London  is  extremely  re- 
markable. No  coercive  laws  would  obtain  so  implicit  an  obedience 
as  is  here  voluntarily  given  to  customs  calculated  for  general  con- 
venience. 

"  'Tis  true,  the  people  when  roused  carry  their  resentments  be- 
yond the  first  object,  and  after  the  event  often  make  every  conces- 
sion ;  but  then  these  concessions  appearing  to  be  the  effect  of  fear, 
the  sincerity  of  them  is  doubted.  They  ought  to  know  this,  and  if 
the  evil  admits  not  of  remedy,  they  are  culpable  for  not  using  ^re- 
ventives. 

"  The  doubts  entertained  of  the  sincerity  of  Charles  I.  were  not 
peculiar  to  his  case.  They  naturally  arise  between  parties  in  all 
civil  wars. 

"Perhaps  there  never  was  a  more  remarkable  situation  of  public 
affairs  both  in  Europe  and  America.  Several  nations  are  in  open  hos- 
tility without  any  declaration  of  war.  In  neither  of  these  nations 
are  the  measures  pursued  by  its  government  generally  approved. 
Vast  numbers  in  each  of  them  espouse  the  cause  of  the  declared  ene- 
mies of  their  country.*  In  England  the  cause  of  America  is  openly 
avowed  by  great  numbers,  and  the  hostility  of  France  and  Spain 
justified.  In  America,  the  adherents  of  the  British  government  are 
numerous.  It  is  said  that  the  connection  with  America,  and  the 
war  with  G.  B.,  is  by  no  means  popular  in  France,  and  the  Spa- 
nish declaration  is  said  to  be  much  disliked  by  the  subjects  of  that 
kingdom.  Holland  is  also  divided,  and  there  are  parties  in  almost 
every  European  nation  upon  the  subject  of  American  Independence. 
From  such  a  strange  jumble  something  must  emerge,  which  will 
probably  make  this  a  most  important  era  in  history.     Some  nations 

*  "  It  would  make  a  strange  revolution,  if  ihe  malcontents  of  every  nation 
were  banished  to  the  enemies  of  that  nation  to  whom  they  adhere  ;  a  wonder- 
ful mixture  of  Medes  and  Persians,  &c.  &c.'' 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  239 

look  to  the  independence  of  America  from  motives  of  commerce, 
(the  freedom  of  which  so  fully  assented  to  l)y  France  was  therefore 
great  policy,)  others  as  an  asylum  to  emigrate  to  from  the  bur- 
thens they  labor  under  in  their  own  country. 

"  Tlie  spirit  of  party  at  this  time  is  much  deeper  laid  than  it 
has  been  in  any  former  period,  when  it  would  unite  against  a  com- 
mon enemy;  whereas  now  it  takes  sides  with  them.*  This  may 
be  imputed  partly  to  two  circumstances  :  First,  the  civil  war  which 
has  prevailed  in  part  of  the  empire,  and  it  is  well  known  that 
people  who  take  a  side  in  such  a  contest  generally  adhere  to  it  in 
all  its  progress;!  for  though  they  cannot  commend  or  justify  all 
that  is  done  by  their  particular  party,  it  is  however  excused  as  an 
act  of  necessity  resulting  from  the  original  misconduct  of  their 
opponents.  Secondly,  I  think  this  bitterness  is  heightened  by  the 
increased  luxury  and  dissipation  of  these  times,  for  public  rapine 
and  peculation  are  become  necessary  to  support  those  who  cannot 
refrain  from  expense,  even  when  their  private  fortunes  are  exhaust- 
ed or  impaired.!  I  have  heard  it  observed  that  public  offices 
might  be  well  filled  by  men  out  of  the  midrlling  class,  but  these 
wanting  'parliamentary  interest  (the  great  avenue  to  preferment) 
must  remain  in  obscurity.  The  constitution  tested  by  its  first  prin- 
ciples is  perhaps  no  more.  Ministerial  people  say  that  no  change 
can  be  made  but  for  the  worse ;  perhaps  this  may  be  true,  under 
the  above  observation,  that  the  choice  is  limited  only  to  certain 
great  men  on  either  side;  but  in  what  situation  must  a  country 
thus  circumstanced  be.  You  have  only  a  choice  of  evils ;  the 
temper  of  the  times,  and  an  artificial  system  of  politics  foreio-n 
from  the  principles  of  the  constitution  preclude  you  from  choosing 
what  is  best ! 

"  Upon  the  whole,  nothing  but  the  most  unlooked  for  success 
can  prevent  some  violent  commotion.  For  the  King  is  determined 
to  retain  his  present  Ministers  in  defiance  of  the  opposition ;  and 
the  opposition  (who  are  very  numerous  and  powerful)  are  deter- 
mined to  thwart  every  measure  of  this  Ministry.     The  language 

*  "  Lord  Abindon's  address  to  Co.  of  Oxford — July  1779." 

t  "  Tlieie  were  many  instances  of  good  men  in  the  wars  of  Charles  I.  who 

changed  side^;." 

X  "  Liberty  is  inconsistent  with  the  dependence  a  broken  fortune  exposes 

to.     Lord  Litt." 


240  THE      LIFE      OF 

of  the  King  is,  The  present  system  is  my  own,  and  I  will  support 
my  servants  in  carrying  it  on  through  all  its  consequences.  That 
of  the  opposition  is,  We  wdll  not  only  not  aid,  but  counteract  every 
measure  under  this  Administration,  though  we  know  the  King  will 
have  no  other.  We  will  therefore  do  what  we  can  to  compel 
him  to  a  change,  or  to  lose  his  Crown  if  he  perseveres.  This  is 
not  exaggerated ;  and  add  to  the  picture  the  present  situation  of 
the  country  involved  in  a  complicated  war,  and  it  will  be  truly 
dreadful 

"  It  appears  to  me,  too,  that  the  contest  is  lately  advanced  one 
dangerous  step ;  the  ministry  were  formerly  charged  with  the  mis- 
chiefs of  the  public  measures,  but  now  the  veil  begins  to  be  drawn 
from  the  Crown,  and  the  King  is  said  to  be  the  author  and  pro- 
moter of  the  system,  even  in  some  instances  against  the  sense 
of  his  servants. 

"  There  is  nothing  which  seems  so  threatening  to  the  Congress 
as  their  paper  money  ;  and  to  such  a  height  is  the  evil  grown  of 
its  depreciation  that  it  is  said  there  are  projects  advanced  of  totally 
annihilating  it,  and  of  emitting  c^e/ioro.  Such  a  measure,  with  the 
enemy  in  their  country,  Avould  be  one  of  the  most  adventurous 
proceedings  known  in  history.  Some  contend  that  there  is  no  fatal 
consequence  to  be  expected  from  the  depreciation  ;  it  is  but,  say 
they,  striking  a  greater  sum,  and  as  every  thing  rises  in  propor- 
tion, so  the  money  may  still  be  sunk  without  any  extraordinary 
burthen  upon  the  subject ;  for  every  necessary  can  be  purchased 
for  the  same  sum  in  specie  as  formerly,  and  if  the  taxes  are  nomi- 
nally higher,  the  produce  rising  in  proportion,  the  farmer  gives  no 
more  of  it  than  if  the  value  of  the  paper  money  w^as  equal  to 
specie  :  thus,  if  the  depreciation  is  as  six  to  one,  the  farmer  when 
he  is  taxed  six  pounds  in  fact  pays  but  one.  But  there  certainly 
is  a  fallacy  in  this.  That  government  must  be  weak,  which,  de- 
claring their  notes  to  be  equal  to  a  certain  sum  pays  them  with 
one  sixth  of  it.  Their  faith  must  be  questionable  when  they  can- 
not perform  their  engagements.  The  taxes  become  in  reality  hea- 
vier, though  the  produce  rises  in  value,  for  foreign  commodities 
equally  rise.* 

♦  "They  have,  however,  many  succedanea  :  1.  Personal  military  services 
like  feudal  times.  2.  The  persons  drafting  paying  the  hired  soldier  in  the  way 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  241 

"  Congress'  national  debt,  includincj  state  emissions,  Lut  exclu- 
sive of  tbreitrn  debt,  is  estimated  at  130  millions  of  dollars. 
"  Loan  certificates         "         "     15  millions. 


145 

"  The  expense  of  campaign  1775  estimated  about  5  millions, 
u         ((         «         u  1776         "  **       16       " 

"  Do.  in  1777,  money  depreciated  at  two  for  one,  45       " 

"  Do.  in  1778,      "  "  "  "  80       " 

"  In  1779,  if  the  real  expense  no  greater  than  the  preceding 
one,  yet  at  the  depreciation  of  fifteen  for  one,  the  expense  computed 
at  300  millions  of  dollars. 

"  Till  government  act  with  more  integrity,  'tis  not  a  duty  in 
subjects  to  make  those  sacrifices,  which  otherwise  would  be  in- 
cumbent on  them. 

"  See  Lord  Littleton's  pathetic  description  of  the  loss  of  national 
spirit,  and  the  profligacy  of  the  great  in  England,  in  a  poem  ad- 
dressed to  Mr.  Glover  in  1734,  Vol.  III.  p.  193.  These  are  sup- 
posed to  be  mere  poetic  declamation  or  visionary  fears  of  theorists, 
and  instances  are  brought  of  like  fears  which  have  proved  ground- 
less ;  but  the  efTect,  though  slow,  is  certain  from  such  a  spirit,  and 
the  evil  day  will  arrive,  though  we  may  be  premature  in  our  prog- 
nostications of  the  exact  time. — With  Spartan  virtue  vanished  their 
importance — so  with  Rome. 

"  The  American  contest  certainly  is  at  an  end  with  respect  to 
the  original  object  of  it.  This  is  given  up.  There  seems  to  be  no 
idea  of  bringing  her  back  to  submission,  and  the  only  plan  is  to 
prevent  her  being  an  accession  to  France.  England  would  readily 
renounce  all  positive  benefits  from  her  submission,  and  yield  to  the 
negative  disadvantage  of  a  separation,  but  she  is  unwilling  she 
should  be  a  positive  enemy. 

"  A  man  sanguine  of  success  of  British  arms  in  the  country, 
will  begin  to  douht  at  New-York.     In  England  he  will  despair. 

"  1779,  August  14th.  In  the  Morning  Post  of  this  day  I  saw  a 
resolution  of  the  Assembly  of  Virginia — 1,  that  inhabitants  of  that 

he  stands  most  in  need  of.  3.  Barter.  4.  The  public  purchasing,  though  at  an 
advanced  price,  and  selling  to  the  troops  at  a  medium  proportioned  to  the 
pay  of  the  soldiers." 

31 


242  THE     LIFE     OF 

State  who  were  beyond  sea  before  hostilities  at  Lexington,  and  not 
having  by  overt  acts  adhered  to  the  enemy,  were  subjects,  and  en- 
titled to  privileges — 2,  that  such  as  were  beyond  sea  after  Lex- 
ington, and  before  independency  and  treason  act,  and  had  adhered 
by  overt  acts,  were  to  be  deemed  British  subjects  and  aliens,  and 
to  be  treated  as  aliens — 3,  that  of  such  the  effects  were  to  be  sold, 
and  the  proceeds  put  in  the  treasury  for  the  future  direction  of  the 
Legislature. 

"  It  is  but  a  weak  argument,  in  answer  to  the  prognostication 
of  the  decline  of  this  country  from  its  luxury,  its  dissipation,  and 
(as  subservient  thereto)  its  rapacity,  to  say  that  this  is  the  necessa- 
ry consequence  of  its  being  a  wealthy,  polished,  and  an  old  country. 
It  is  not  contended  that  the  people  are  uncommonly  wicked  or  de- 
praved, or  that  other  nations  in  the  same  situation  would  not  be 
equally  degenerate ;  but  if  this  be  human  nature  under  those  cir- 
cumstances, it  is  only  contended  that  it  is  human  nature  so  situated 
as  to  be  subject  to  the  overthrow,  or  at  least  to  some  violent  con- 
cussion, of  the  nation.  Perhaps  no  palliatives  will  be  able  long  to 
support  it,  nor  will  its  splendor  be  regained  but  by  its  previous 
dissolution,  when  the  national  character  will  rise  like  a  new  phoe- 
nix out  of  the  ashes  of  the  old.     Like  the  Dutch  in  another  sense, 

they  must  be  d d  to  be  politically  saved. 

''  Its  national  debt  is  alarming,  and  the  temporary  expedients 
and  ingenious  refinements  must  become  exhausted.  Its  supplies 
now  arise  from  gaming. 

"  Amusements  may  be  necessary  in  every  state,  and  in  some 
more  so  than  in  others ;  but  that  must  be  a  vicious  necessity  which 
requires  them  in  the  degree  they  are  at  present  in  England. 

"  The  taxes  of  this  country  are  certainly  at  a  great  height,  and 
the  effect  of  them  is  felt  by  every  rank,  not  of  inhabitants  only,  but 
of  strangers ;  for  all  kinds  of  commodities  and  necessaries,  as  well 
as  luxuries,  are  enhanced  in  their  prices.  When  it  is  considered 
that  this  load  of  taxes  is  confined  merely  to  the  payment  of  the 
interest,  leaving  the  enormous  principal  still  in  force,  'tis  really 
alarming.  But  this  debt,  in  which  almost  every  man  in  the  king- 
dom is  a  creditor,  has  been  a  great  security  (and  was  so  originally 
intended  by  King  William)  against  a  revolution ;  every  man  is 
interested  to  support  a  government  of  which  he  is  a  creditor.  This 
is  an  artificial  prop. 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  243 

"  Bristol,  Sth  Oct.,  1779.  Tlie  affairs  of  Ireland  seem  to  wear 
a  very  threatening  aspect.  They  have  entered  into  agreements 
not  to  import  the  manufactures  of  this  country.  They  have  twenty 
thousand  men  in  arms  by  voluntary  association,  not  subject  to  the 
control  of  the  Crown.  And  in  late  publications  they  assert  the  in- 
dependency of  that  kingdom  on  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain. 
Sequitur  passibus  hand  isccquis. 

I  have  read  a  pamphlet  of  Mr.  Sheridan  addressed  to  Sir  Wil- 
liam Blackstone,  confuting  his  doctrines  of  the  omnipotency  of  Par- 
liament, by  passages  from  his  own  Commentaries.     See   1  Vol. 
Com.  pp.  49,  50.     He  advances  several  new  propositions  upon  the 
subject  of  government,  and  upon  the  whole  has  formed  a  very 
pretty  theory.     He  denies  the  position,  that  upon  entering  into 
society  we  surrender  part  of  our  natural  liberty,  and  distinguishes 
between  liberty  and  power.     The  former  consists  of  three  particu- 
lars:    1,  personal  security  ;  2,  personal  liberty;  3,  private  prop- 
erty.    These  he  calls  natural  and  inalienable  rights,  and   the  en- 
joyment of  them  in  society  he  calls  civil  liberty.     The  protection 
of  and  a  right  to  defend  them  is  the  fourth,  which  is  a  power  of 
which  we  delegatepar^  to  our  rulers,  the  part  reserved  by  the  trust- 
ors constituting  iheir political  liberty.  He  contends  that  there  must, 
as  necessary  to  the  security  of  the  subject  in  the  enjoyment  of  their 
civil  rights,  be  an  identity  of  interest  between  the  representative 
and  the  remaining  part  of  the  community.     The  consequence  ari- 
sing from  this  with  regard  to  Ireland,  &c.,  is  obvious.     He  denies 
that  licentiousness  is  the  extreme  of  liberty,  and  asserts  that  it  is  an 
assumption  of  power,  beyond  that  portion  of  it  retained  by  the 
people.     He  insists  that  liberty,  consisting  as  above  in  the  three 
primary  natural  rights,  must  never  be  surrendered  by  a  free  people. 
Government  is  only  intrusted  with  the  exercise  of  the  fourth,  from 
which  government  derives  all  its  powers,  which  extend  only  to 
protect  the  society  at  large  in  their  rights. 

"  Arms  and  discipline  only  could  conquer  Rome  ;  but  a  depri- 
vation of  wealth  would  subdue  England.  If  America  had  not 
chosen  to  proceed  by  violence,  she  might  have  emancipated  herself 
without  a  blow.  The  dominion  of  England  over  Ireland  is  Eng- 
land's profit,  not  her  glory.  Remove  that  profit  j — her  dominion 
becomes  a  sound.     But  how  remove  that  profit  1     Wear  your  own 


244  THE      LIFE      OF 

manufactures.  Associate.  By  that  word  she  may  be  beaten  with- 
out fighting,  and  subdued  without  contest.  Thus  the  ends  of  w^ar 
may  be  attained  by  the  instruments  of  peace. 

"  1779,  Nov.,  London.  America  will  perhaps  never  see  such 
happy  days  as  the  past.  They  may  be  a  great  empire,  and  enjoy 
opulence;  but  that  mediocrity  between  extreme  poverty  and  luxu- 
rious riches  made  their  condition  substantially  happy.  There  being 
but  few  offices,  there  was  no  scope  for  bribery,  corruption,  and  the 
numerous  train  of  evils  which  attend  the  venality  in  this  country. 
Henceforth,  having  an  empire  of  their  own,  the  numerous  train  of 
offices  w'ill  produce  like  effects  as  the  same  causes  do  here. 

"  The  patriots  in  this  country  openly  espouse  the  cause  of 
France  and  Spain ;  but  it  is  on  account  of  their  interposition  in 
favor  of  America.  Is  there  not  some  inconsistency  in  their  conduct, 
and  was  it  not  the  same  principle  which  led  them  to  want  this 
government  to  assist  Corsica  ? 

"Whether  the  contest  is  at  an  end  or  not,  is  a  question  of  fact, 
the  affirmative  of  which  is  not  to  be  assumed  upon  shght  grounds, 
nor  is  the  mind  to  be  influenced  by  sinister  motives  of  interest  in 
regard  to  temporary  ease,  nor  because  government  cannot  protect 
every  part  of  its  dominions. 

"  But,  on  the  other  hand,  neither  is  the  negative  to  be  taken  up 
when  the  mind,  upon  an  impartial  inquiry,  is  fully  satisfied  ;  when 
a  series  of  events  and  of  attempts  for  years  have  only  increased  the 
probability  of  want  of  success,  and  the  difficulty  of  the  object ; 
when  in  various  instances  government  has  confessed  this ;  when 
the  object  of  the  w- ar  is  changed  ;  when  to  persevere  is  infatuation  ; 
when  the  view  is  only  to  weaken  our  country  w^ithout  hopes  of  re- 
gaining it;  when  the  arguments  for  allegiance  now  will  equally 
operate  fifty  years  hence.  Duty  to  myself,  to  my  posterity,  to  my 
native  country,  then,  call  on  me,  and  my  connection  with  the  pa- 
rent country  is  dissolved. 

"  I  am  to  consider  the  happiness  of  that  country,  not  the  ag- 
grandizement of  this.  Perpetuation  of  animosities — Devastation — 
End  of  the  w^ar ;  the  only  means,  &c. 

"It  is  supposed  that  the'aversion  of  the  Americans  to  the  re- 
ligion, government,  and  manners  of  the  French,  will  make  them 
unwilling  to  admit  French  troops  among  them.     My  opinion  has 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  245 

been  uniformly  o^iven  against  this  idea.  The  great  object  of 
America  is  independence.  Her  hatred,  her  religious  hatred,  is 
against  Great  J5rilain.  'I'his  is  her  ruling  passion,  which  swallows 
up  all  others  as  of  inierior  consideration.  Whatever  the  motive  of 
France  was,  the  action  was  materi;illv  good  in  the  eye  of  the 
Americans.  The  external  prolcssion  of  one  religion  or  another, 
could  not  stand  in  competition  with  benefits  and  injuries,  and  these 
depend  upon  opinion.  The  wounds  of  a  friend  strike  deeper  than 
those  of  an  enemy.  It  must  be  a  work  of  time  to  recall  her  affec- 
tions.* 

"Dec.  1779.  The  instance  of  the  restoration,  is  often  adduced 
by  those  who  expect  the  Americans  will  return  to  their  allegiance. 
1.  This  is  a  singular  case,  a  prodigy  in  history,  from  which  no  gen- 
eral conclusion  can  be  drawn,  or  any  rational  hope  grounded  that 
it  will  be  so  in  another.  2.  The  genius  of  the  English  led  them  to 
a  preference  of  monarchy,  whereas  the  Americans  (especially 
New  England)  are  disposed  to  a  republic.  3.  The  government  in 
England  had  been  fluctuating  between  a  variety  of  forms  till  it  set- 
tled in  the  Protector,  whose  powers,  in  fact,  were  those  of  a  king  {/ 
W'ithout  the  name.  The  American  constitutions  are  ^ixe(\,  and  to- 
tally different  from  their  colony  dependence.  The  transition  at 
the  restoration  was  easy  ;  that  of  the  Americans  w^ould  be  from  one 
extreme  to  another.  4.  The  English  effected  the  restoration  with- 
out any  sacrifice  of  national  dignity.  The  Americans  would  have 
to  sacrifice  all  the  pride  of  empire,  which  every  whig  there  now 
feels  as  sensibly  as  a  monarch  his  power.  5.  Those  who  opposed 
royalty  in  England  were  the  most  contemptible  of  the  community. 
"  In  one  case  prejudice  in  favor  of  an  old  form — in  the  other 
never  any  settled  constitution. 


*  "  If  ever  the  Americans  should  come  back  to  a  coalition  with  this  coun- 
try, it  must  be  after  the  cessation  of  hostilities,  at  present  their  passions  are 
too  muck  awake. 

"  When  mutual  aggressions  have  been  so  far  carried  on  as  to  occasion  an 
appeal  to  the  sword,  that  alone  must  decide  it.  A  mutual  suspicion  of  the 
sincerity  of  either  actuates  both  parties.  This  is  confirmed  by  all  history. 
It  was  folly,  therefore,  to  expect  the  Americans  would  lay  down  their  arms 
upon  oflers  made.  The  crime,  if  any,  was  in  taking  up  arms.  The  rest  was 
but  a  consequence." 


246  THE     LIFE     OF 

"  The  principal  ground  of  hope  now,  is  the  depreciation  of  the 
American  paper  currency.  Money,  say  the  ministerial  people,  is 
the  sinew  of  war,  and  the  longest  purse  must  prevail.  But,  1. 
Thev  have  the  necessaries  of  life,  and  if  they  have  not  the  riches, 
neither  have  they  the  luxuries  of  England.  2.  They  have  their 
supplies  of  military  stores  upon  credit  from  abroad.  3.  The  depre- 
ciation is  owing  to  the  abundance,  more  than  to  the  want  of  public 
credit.  4.  When  they  find  the  matter  threatening  ruin,  they  will 
enter  into  associations  to  support  its  credit.  5.  The  end  of  the  war 
will  give  them  resources  to  pay  off  the  debt — crown  lands,  forfeited 
lands,  trade.  They  have  hope  continually  spurring  them  on.  They 
have  a  great  object  in  view. 

"  National  inconveniences  are  great  and  small  by  comparison. 

Has  not  England  a  great  national  debt  ?  Have  not  they  a of 

paper  currency  ?     Have  they  not  enormous  taxes  ? 

"  The  Americans  cannot  be  more  distressed  than  they  have  been 
for  two  or  three  years  after  hostilities  commenced.  Their  troops 
were  naked,  barefooted,  and  had  very  little  salt  provisions.  They 
have  never  been  accustomed  to  the  luxuries  of  Englishmen.  Their 
legislators  and  generals  have  lived  in  the  simplicity  of  a  Numa 
and  a  Cincinnatus. 

"  December,  1779.  It  is  now  common  among  the  patriots  to 
ascribe  to  the  King  the  whole  system  of  the  public  measures,  espe- 
cially the  continuance  of  the  American  war.  This  is  called  the 
royal  hobby-horse.  Obstinacy  is  said  to  be  his  characteristic.  But 
there  are  facts  which  seem  to  militate  the  other  way.  Were  not 
his  counsels  in  a  continued  state  of  fluctuation  in  the  first  part  of 
his  reign,  insomuch  that  the  ministry  in  1766  was  the  sixth  of  his 
reign  ?  Did  not  opposition  decline  a  coalition  and  refuse  to  come 
in  unless  upon  a  total  admission  of  themselves,  Ch — ,  Y — ke? 
Has  not  the  King  pursued  the  plans  of  his  ministry  through  all  the 
changes  they  have  advised  respecting  American  politics  (ut  nee 
'pes,  nee  eaput  uni  reddatur  formce)  1  Has  he  not  stooped  to  those 
he  was  supposed  to  be  most  inveterate  against?  Has  he  not 
agreed  to  commissionate  the  leaders  in  America ;  to  confirm  their 
paper  currency ;  to  give  up  his  quit-rents,  &c.  ?  Are  not  these 
proofs  rather  of  his  attachment  to  his  ministers,  than  of  personal 
resentment  against  the  Americans  ? 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  247 

"  Lord  B.  and  Lord  ]\L  arc  said  to  guide  all  the  public  councils 
— Lord  Stormont — Lord  Mountsheart. 

"  Should  America  be  forced  into  submission,  how  must  she  be 
retained  ?  Either  by  a  treaty  givinf]^  her  the  terms  offered  by  the 
commissioners,  or  something  tantamount,  or  by  the  sv;ord. 

"  What  hopes  are  there  of  success  ?  What  system  has  been 
adopted  ?  What  losses  may  be  sustained  without  relinquishing  the 
contest  ?  On  the  other  hand,  is  it  merely  a  war  of  revenge  ?  Is 
it  merely  to  distress  that  country  1  Is  the  only  hope  founded  on  a 
series  of  favorable  contingencies  to  this  ? 

"  Can  any  American  wish  a  continuance  of  the  war,  if  there 
is  not  some  rational  hope  of  success  ?  Can  he  wish  his  own  coun- 
try laid  waste  by  fire  and  sword,  if  even  there  was  some  prospect 
of  its  bringing  on  a  submission  in  the  end?  Can  he  wish  to  see 
a  submission  enforced  by  war,  pestilence  or  famine  ?  Could  such 
a  submission  be  durable  ? 

"  It  behooves  every  American  seriously  to  weigh  these  matters. 
The  question  is  not  whether  if  such  and  such  things  were  to  be 
done,  and  if  such  and  such  events  happen  ;  but  whether  from  the 
result  of  former  experience,  and  from  present  appearances,  it  is  not 
morally  impossible  that  there  should  be  a  reconciliation,  and  then 
whether  the  effusion  of  blood,  and  the  horrors  of  war  should  not 
cease. 

*'  Dec.  28th,  1779.  The  affair  of  Georgia  has  given  new  life 
and  spirits  to  the  friends  of  administration.  The  very  persons  who 
but  a  week  ago  gave  all  over  in  America  as  lost,  or  at  least 
totally  despaired  of  the  conquest  of  the  country,  seem  now  to  be 
sanguine  of  that  event.  It  is  certainly  an  important  affair ;  it  saves 
not  only  the  army  in  Georgia,  but  the  troops  in  the  other  parts 
of  the  continent,  at  least  from  imminent  danger,  if  not  from  impend- 
ing destruction.  But  does  it  facilitate  the  object  of  conquest  ? 
Is  it  more  than  leaving  a  distant  prospect  of  that  which  D'Estaing's 
success  would  have  rendered  hopeless  ?  Is  it  more  than  for  the 
present  cutting  off  from  the  Americans  the  actual  aid  of  France ; 
but  does  it  not  still  leave  the  whole  power  of  the  continent  opposed 
to  the  British  arms  ?  Sanguine  hopes  are  indeed  entertained  of 
benefits  to  EnMand  from  the  dissensions  between  America  and  the 
French  ;  but  are  these  any  thing  more  than  what  are  common  upon 


248  THE      LIFE      OF 

want  of  success  between  other  allies  ?  And  is  it  not  overrating 
the  thino-,  to  suppose  that  the  mere  disputes  between  the  different 
corps  in  a  campaign,  will  become  a  national  object  ? 

"  The  events  of  war  are  indeed  precarious  and  fluctuating.  A 
people  from  the  lowest  ebb  of  distress  are  often  saved,  and  raised 
to  success  and  splendor.  But  the  object  of  England  is  the  conquest 
of  an  extensive  continent,  the  reclaiming  a  people  whose  affections 
are  alienated,  reducing  those  to  the  situation  of  subjects  who  are 
now^  filled  with  the  ideas,  and  wnth  the  pride  of  empire.  This,  in 
my  opinion,  is  the  great  discouraging  circumstance  attending  this 
contest,  which  distinguishes  this  war  from  that  between  foreign 
powders. 

"  My  sentiments  on  the  nature  and  consequences  of  civil  wars, 
opposed  to  those  who  contend  against  the  equality  of  rights  of  the 
party  in  resistance  and  the  government  resisted,  and  asserting  that 
the  same  rules  of  war  ought  to  prevail  between  them  as  in  foreign 
wars  between  independent  states,  I  find  confirmed  by  Vattel,  Vol. 
II.  p.  109,  &c. 

"  The  best  interpretation  of  the  law  of  nature  and  nations  is  the 
general  benefits  of  society,  and  that  is  likely  to  be  the  truest  con- 
struction, which  exposes  men  to  the  least  inconvenience.  Truth 
and  utility  coincide.  What  is  the  end  of  laws  obligatory  on  men 
but  the  advancement  of  their  happiness  ?  Ought  not  the  means  to 
be  adapted  to  the  end,  and  is  not  the  conclusion  irresistible  that 
those  means  are  agreeable  to  the  w'ill  of  the  Creator,  whose  good- 
ness in  human  affairs  is  directed  to  this  end  1 

"The  difl[iculties  of  the  application,  in  cases  involved  in  a  mul- 
tiplicity of  combinations  and  a  variety  of  relative  circumstances, 
does  not  disprove  the  certainty  of  the  rule. 

'If  white  and  black  blen<l,  soften,  and  unite, 
A  thousand  ways,  is  there  no  black  and  white  ?' 

Essay  on  Man,  E.  p.  2,  210. 

"Jan.  18th,  1780.  Upon  reading  Mr.  G — 's  pamphlet  entitled 
Cool  Thoughts,  &c.,  will  not  one  conclude  that  Opposition  and  Min- 
istry had  changed  weapons,  or  at  least  that  the  latter  had  now 
when  it  is  too  late  become  proselytes  to  the  doctrines  of  the  minor- 
ity ?     He  shows  the  astonishing  benefits  to  this  country  from  the 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  249 

American  Colonies,  lo  Ikt  trade,  to  hvv  navy,  to  licr  inariufactures, 
and  in  conscqurnceto  lici-  a'j,ricullni(',to  her  po))ulation,  &.c.  And  he 
shows  the  verv  /ri/llni^  expense  the  Coh)nies  have  been  to  tlie  Mo- 
ther country.  Why  then  was  a  contest  set  on  foot  for  a  paUry 
object,  thai  would  be  attended  with  consequences  of  such  niaf^ni- 
tude  ?  What  becomes  of  the  arfrument  for  a  ratable  contribution 
from  the  Colonies,  founded  upon  the  expenditure  of  settlinf^  and  pro- 
tectint;'  those  colonies'?  Does  not  this  pamphlet  favor  my  idea,  that 
the  war  is  now  merely  British,  and  the  aggrandizement  of  G.  B. 
the  sole  object  ?  All  the  facts  stated,  and  most  of  the  inferences 
would  have  afforded  matter  for  an  excellent  speech  in  Congress,  in 
1774  and  1775,  or  for  a  member  of  the  British  Parliament  in  the 
opposition,  on  very  many  occasions,  and  several  debates  carried  on 
there;  perhaps  the  gentleman  got  his  materials  at  Carpenters'  Hall. 

"  It  proves  that  to  support  Ministry  now,  it  must  be  done  upon 
the  very  principles  which  they  reprobated  formerly,  that  Parlia- 
ment must  now  assent  to  propositions  which  they  before  rejected  as 
false.  That  those  they  avowed  as  true,  and  as  the  ground  of  the  jus- 
tice of  beginning  the  contest,  really  had  no  existence,  or  were  ut- 
terly false.  That  the  reasons  urged  by  opposition  for  preventing 
the  war,  which  were  rejected,  must  now  betaken  up  to  car  nj  it  o?i. 
It  blows  hot  and  cold,  and  is  a  two-edged  sword  which  cuts  both 
ways. 

"  Writers,  to  establish  a  favorite  position,  often  overshoot  the 
mark.  But  if  the  facts  they  adduce  to  a  particular  purpose  are 
liable  to  inferences  of  a  different  kind  from  what  they  wish,  the 
fault  is  with  themselves ;  but  it  is  not  their  prerogative  to  appro- 
priate their  subject  so  as  to  exclude  others  from  it.  To  guard  a 
limb,  they  often  leave  the  vitals  exposed  (and  sometimes  furnish 
the  very  w^eapons)  to  a  deadly  w^ound. 

"  April,  1780.  The  characters  of  men  are  mixed ;  none 
are  perfectly  good,  and  very  few  totally  depraved.  Candor, 
therefore,  should  lead  us  to  place  their  good  qualities  in  one  scale 
while  the  bad  are  put  in  the  other.  Actions  right  and  wrong  in 
themselves,  are  not  always  such,  as  they  respect  the  ^gQui's  motives. 
I  know  of  no  other  rule  to  determme  the  morality  of  an  action  than 
a  man's  acting  according  to  the  dictates  of  his  oxen  judgment, 
having  first  used  proper  means  to  inform  himself  upon  the  mhject. 

32 


250  THE     LIFE     OF 

"There  is  certainly  as  fair  a  foundation  for  a  civil  war  laid 
in  the  principles  of  the  parties  now  subsisting  in  this  country,  as 
ever  existed  anywhere,  or  at  any  time.*  The  patriots  are  deter- 
mined to  oppose  the  present  administration,  as  persons  inadequate 
to  their  offices,  and  the  King  having  by  the  constitution  the  prero- 
gative of  nominating  his  ministers,  is  determined  to  have  no  others. 

"  In  party  times,  a  man  who  takes  either  side  w^ith  warmth  wall 
always  have  panegyrists  and  censurers.  If  his  moral  character  be 
bad,  his  enemies  will  dwell  upon  that,  and  ask  what  good  princi- 
ple can  be  expected  from  such  a  man.  His  friends,  on  the  con- 
trary, will  overlook  his  moral  failings,  for  the  sake  of  his  upright 
politics.  If  his  moral  character  be  good,  his  friends  will  deduce 
much  in  favor  of  his  politics  from  that  circumstance,  while  his 
enemies  will  deplore  that  a  man  otherwise  unexceptionable  should 
be  so  strangely  deluded  ! 

"  May  8th.  It  is  strange  to  observe  with  what  warmth  partisans 
will  argue  about  events  at  a  distance  which  they  cannot  influence, 
and  which  at  the  time  are  decided.  We  may  reason  upon  facts 
which  we  know,  and  infer  the  probability  of  future  events  from 
them,  but  we  only  expose  ourselves  by  warmth  and  confidence 
about  them.  Some  people  proved  dearly  a  fortnight  ago,  that  Sir 
Henry  Clinton's  whole  fleet  was  dispersed,  most  of  the  troops  lost, 
and  the  whole  expedition  thw^arted,  and  would  fly  into  a  passion 
with  any  man  who  would  not  believe  them.  Others  were  equally 
confident  (and  equally  impatient  of  contradiction)  that  he  was  in 
possession  of  Charleston  before  he  had  landed,  as  it  now  appears. 
Each  party  being  dislodged  from  these  grounds,  immediately  take 
up  others,  and  show  the  same  confidence. 

"  There  is  nothing  so  absurd  which  people  having  the  same 
wishes,  and  the  same  interests,  and  associating  together,  and  with 
no  persons  of  contrary  sentiments,  may  not  persuade  themselves  to 
think,  believe,  or  to  do. 

"  Many  suffer  their  judgments  to  fluctuate  respecting  the  issue 

♦  "  May  25th.  The  opposition,  however,  is  and  has  for  some  time  past, 
grown  much  weaker  than  it  was  at  the  beginning  of  the  sessions,  and  through- 
out the  winter. 

'•  July  11th.  The  opposition  is  now  totally  overset,  and  ministry  firmer 
than  they  have  yet  been." 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  251 

of  this  war,  by  the  vicissitudes  and  events  of  the  day.  They  will 
be  very  incompetent  judges  of  tlie  weight  of  successful  or  unsuc- 
cessful events,  who,  instead  of  taking  up  the  contest  upon  a  large 
scale,  exhibiting  all  the  relations  and  connections,  only  view  a 
part  of  it.  There  are  certain  leachng  characters  which  are  pecu- 
liar to  this  contest,  and  distinguish  it  from  the  wars  which  have 
happened  in  Europe  for  a  century  past.  At  present,  the  one  side 
place  the  whole  event  of  the  American  w^ar  upon  the  single  issue 
of  the  success  at  Charleston ;  the  representations  of  the  internal 
state  of  the  Americans  being  such  as  to  threaten  their  sudden  de- 
struction. The  points  insisted  upon  are  :  1.  The  depreciation  of 
their  paper  money.  2.  The  want  of  necessaries  in  general.  3. 
The  want  o(  provisions.  4.  That  the  people  are  tired  of  the  war, 
and  desirous  of  a  reconciliation.  5.  That  they  hate  the  French, 
and  are  sick  of  the  alliance  ;  are  averse  to  their  manners,  so  differ- 
ent from  their  own,  and  feel  themselves  disappointed  in  not  having 
the  assistance  they  expected  from  them.  And  that  all  this  is  ap- 
parent because  they  cannot  raise  troops  but  by  compulsion.  It  is 
added  that  they  are  disgusted  with  the  French  and  Spaniards  for 
not  lending  them  money ;  Spain  having  advanced  them  but  five 
hundred  thousand  dollars  instead  of  five  millions,  as  they  promised. 
It  is  also  said  that  Mr.  Adams  and  Doctor  Franklin  are  using  all 
their  exertions  to  prevail  on  the  French  Court  to  send  out  supplies, 
who  on  the  contrary  are  waiting  the  event  of  the  siege  of  Charles- 
ton, and  detain  their  fleet  on  that  account,  knowing  that  they 
are  now  too  late  to  relieve  the  place.  An  instance  was  mentioned 
by  General  Conway  of  a  Frenchman  who  had  been  employed  to 
sound  the  Americans,  (Mr.  Pontas,  sent  by  the  Count  St.  Germans,) 
and  reported  the  enmity  of  the  Americans  to  that  nation — Credat 
Judceus  Jippella. 

*'  That  the  affairs  of  America  are  at  a  crisis,  and  the  balance 
stands  nearly  even  between  war  and  peace.  It  was  said  by  Mr. 
G — ,  that  in  Pennsylvania,  nine  twelfths,  nay,  nine  tenths  of  the 
people  are  for  a  restoration  of  the  old  government ! !  Associations 
of  thousands  in  P. 

"  On  the  other  hand,  the  patriots  answer  the  arguments  drawn 
from  the  above  considerations  by  a  flat  denial  of  the  facts  in  most 
instances,  and  in  others  of  the  inferences  deduced  from  them.     For 


252  THE     LIFE      OF 

my  own  part,  I  do  think  the  resistance  at  tliis  moment  stronger 
than  it  was  at  any  former  period  ;  by  which  I  do  not  mean  that 
they  have  more  troops,  more  money,  more  credit,  but  that,  all 
thino"s  considered,  the  resistance  is  more  difficult  to  he  overcome. 

"  By  late  advices  from  Ireland,  the  people  there  seem  to  be  in 
a  more  violent  ferment  than  ever.  The  repeal  or  alteration  of 
Poyning's  law  is  insisted  upon ;  in  short,  the  American  principle 
of  independence  on  the  British  Parliament,  is  the  object.  'Tis 
dangerous  to  say  any  thing  to  the  prejudice  of  the  Americans, 
there.  On  the  other  hand,  the  violence  of  the  storm  in  this  country 
seems  to  abate.  The  popular  proceedings  grow  more  languid. 
The  inferior  agents  begin  to  suspect  the  designs  of  the  leaders. 
The  great  grow  afraid  of  their  property.  Burke  avows  the  princi- 
ple of  septennial  Parliaments.  Sir  George  Saville  reprobates 
independency. 

"  June  2d.  A  petition  from  the  Protestant  Association  against 
the  act  for  removing  certain  disabilities  under  which  the  Roman 
Catholics  were  placed  by  former  laws,  was  presented  to  the  House 
of  Commons,  by  a  vast  concourse  of  people,  'tis  said  not  less  than 
forty  thousand  men.  The  transactions  from  that  time  till  the  8th, 
consisting  of  the  most  violent  outrages,  the  destruction  of  the 
Romish  chapels  of  ambassadors,  &c.,  of  private  houses,  of  the 
public  jails,  Newgate,  the  Fleet,  King's  Bench,  &,c. — for  these  vide 
the  papers. 

"  June  9th.  The  riots  were  quelled  by  means  of  the  exertion 
of  military  force,  many  lives  having  been  lost.  N.  B.  some  of  the 
warmest  Patriots  distinguished  themselves  in  the  suppression  of  the 
mobs.  Lord  George  Gordon  was  apprehended  and  committed  to 
the  Tower. 

"  June  15th,  arrived  Lord  Lincoln  with  intelligence  of  the  sur- 
render of  Charleston. 

"  July  6th,  arrived  Major  Bruce  with  despatches  from  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  of  a  very  important  nature,  respecting  the  disposition 
of  the  people  in  the  colony  of  South  Carolina. 

"  July  11th,  1780.  The  late  transactions  at  home,  and  the  im- 
portant advices  from  America  have  given  a  very  different  face  to 
affairs.  Ministry  are  more  determined,  opposition  deranged,  and 
in  consequence  Government  has  a  greater  degree  of  energy  than  it 


PETER      VAX      SCHAACK.  253 

has  possessed  during  llic  war.  Wlmt  was  before  assertion  respect- 
ing the  weakness  of  the  Congressional  power,  their  (Hssensions, 
and  the  eifect  of  the  paper  currency,  secnis  now  to  have  a  consider- 
able weight  of  evidence  from  the  events  at  Charleston,  &c.* 
South  Carolina  is  at  present  dismembered  from  the  conl'ederacy. 
De  Turney's  operations  arc  now  a  subject  of  the  most  anxious  ex- 
pectation.    Should  he  be  defeated  ! 

"  The  intelligence  from  America  is  important,  in  the  three 
following  points  of  view.  1.  The  actual  loss  to  the  Americans  in 
the  articles  of  troops,  military  stores,  magazines,  and  a  material 
sea-port  town,  and  in  consequence  its  trade.  2.  The  actual  acqui- 
sition of  these  important  articles  to  the  British  troops,  the  numbers 
of  men  they  will  Lave  in  arms  to  defend  the  Province,  &c.  3.  The 
evidence  atlorded  by  these  transactions  of  the  comparative  weak- 
ness of  the  colonies,  and  the  presumption  of  future  events  favorable 
to  this  country. 

"  Nothing  could  be  more  discouraging  to  the  American  loyal- 
ists than  was  the  situation  of  affairs  for  two  years  past.  Every 
intelligence  they  gave  was  disregarded.  Ministry  was  languid, 
and  sulfered  without  contradiction  the  most  positive  assertions  of 
opposition  to  pass  for  truth,  of  the  actual  dismemberment  of  the 
Colonies  from  the  Crown.  The  officers  arriving  from  America 
holding  that  country  up  as  united,  and  invincible.  The  delinquents 
not  called  to  account,  and  that  impunity  arguing  a  consciousness 
of  their  innocence,  and  of  the  ministers'  guilt,  or  neglect. — Nothing 
done  in  America  indicating  a  hope  of  conquest,  but  all  upon  the 
defensive — the  troops  cooped  up.  No  system  of  civil  police,  to  call 
forth  their  own  friends,  or  conciliate  their  enemies — American 
corps  drafted  into  British  regiments 

"  It  is  curious  to  remark  the  progress  of  the  American  contest. 
First,  nothing  short  of  unconditional  submission  would  be  accepted. 
Then  a  resolution  of  the  House  of  Commons  was  passed,  offering  a 
conditional  suspension  of  the  taxing  power.  Then  General  Gage 
issued  a  proclamation  excluding  from  pardon  two  persons  by  name. 
Then  comes  out  an  act  of  Parliament  promising  a  revisal  of  the 
obnoxious  act,  and  a  proclamation  of  indiscriminate  pardon.  Then 
an  act  of  Parliament  repealing  the  offensive  acts,  and  renouncino^ 

*  E.  Kutlidge — Lincoln. 


254  THE      LIFE      OF 

the  claim  of  taxatioiij  as  well  as  every  claim  which  involved  any 
idea  of  subordination.  The  business  of  coercion  was  again  re- 
sumed. After  some  feeble  efforts,  the  coercing  army  are  obliged 
to  act  on  the  defensive,  and  they  are  anxious  for  the  safety  of  those 
who  were  to  be  the  conquerors.  Thus  as  fast  as  one  prop  is  taken 
away,  another  is  laid  hold  of;  and,  notwithstanding  a  total  change 
of  circumstances,  people  think  they  must,  to  avoid  the  imputation 
of  inconsistency^  retain  \he.same  opinion.  "  Hope  travels  through, 
nor  quits  us  when  we  die.'' 

"  Sept.  29th,  1780.  A  notion  again  prevails  that  the  troops 
wnll  be  withdrawn  from  America,  and  this  is  held  by  persons,  w^ho, 
a  few  weeks  ago,  from  some  successful  events  thought  conquest  in- 
sured. Strange  event-judging  world  !  What  occasions  this  change? 
The  landing  of  the  French  troops,  and  the  reinforcements  to  Gen- 
eral Washington's  army.  But  surely  it  could  not  be  doubted  that 
the  French  would  send  troops,  and  it  was  known  for  several 
months  past  that  they  had  done  it ;  and  that  this  w^ould  give  energy 
to  Congress,  and  spirits  to  the  people  was  beyond  doubt.  The 
abandoning  America  now,  is  the  wildest  chimsera  that  ever  en- 
tered into  the  head  of  a  politician.  Suppose  even  that  conquest  is 
impracticable,  (as  I  verily  believe  it  is,)  what  would  be  gained  by 
this  measure  ?  W^ill  it  break  the  confederacy,  and  detach  America 
from  France  ?  By  no  means.  Will  it  increase  our  comparative 
strength  in  the  West  Indies  ?  No :  for  the  French  force  now  on 
the  continent  W'ill  be  sent  thither,  strengthened  by  reinforcements 
from  the  American  army.  America,  left  to  herself,  will  sooner  re- 
cover from  the  wounds  she  has  sustained  in  the  course  of  the  war, 
and  wall  be  enabled,  besides  prosecuting  her  agriculture  and  man- 
ufactures, to  carry  on  the  business  of  ship-building,  and  fitting  out 
private  ships  of  war.  The  fate  of  Canada,  where  the  British  power 
already  shakes  to  its  centre,  will  be  accelerated,  and  the  danger- 
ous situation  of  the  Islands  greatly  increased.  Great  Britain  must 
have  some  ports  upon  the  continent,  or  she  must  sign  a  carte  blanche. 
In  short,  in  this  choice  of  difficulties,  the  least  pernicious  system 
will  probably  be  deemed  to  be  the  continuance  of  the  war  in  its 
present  confused,  jumbled  state,  as  the  situation  of  this  country 
seems  now  to  be  precisely  that  wherein  Cardinal  De  Retz  says  it 
is  even  prudent  to  consult  only  le  chapltre  des  accidens. 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  255 

*'  Oct.  12th,  1780.  It  seems  to  be  received  as  a  fact,  that  tho 
resolution  Lord  Cornwallis  expressed  in  his  letter  of  21st  Au- 
gust, of  inflicting  exemplary  punishment  on  some  of  the  prisoners, 
has  been  actually  carried  into  execution.  Probably  the  descrip- 
tions in  his  preceding  letters  may  j)oint  out  who  tliey  are.  1.  Lieut. 
Col.  Lisle,  who  had  been  paroled  to  the  islands  and  had  afterwards 
exchanged  his  parole  for  a  certificate  of  his  being  a  good  subject, 
returned  to  the  country,  and  carried  o(I  a  whole  battalion  to  join 
General  Sumpter.  2.  Col.  Mills'  Militia,  who  carried  off  their  offi- 
cers to  General  Gates  in  North  Carolina.  N.  B.  These  militia  the 
Col.  formed  contrary  to  his  lordship's  instructions,  trusting  more  to 
oaths  and  professions,  and  attending  less  to  the  former  conduct  of 
those  he  admitted. 

"  Whether  the  Congress  will  think  proper  to  make  any  retalia- 
tions, is  uncertain  ;  but  it  is  proper  to  remark,  that  Earl  Corn- 
\vaHis  has  not  inflicted  punishments  upon  any  for  treason  previous 
to  the  taking  of  Charleston,  and  simply  on  account  of  their  hav- 
ing engaged  in  the  resistance ;  and  that  it  is  the  violation  of  new 
engagements,  voluntarily  entered  into,  and  broken  through  without 
compulsion  from  the  American  army,  which  he  has  punished. 
The  Congress  have  inflicted  capital  punishments  for  aiding  and 
abetting  the  King's  troops,  upon  such  as  had  never  recognized  the 
American  States,  or  sworn  allegiance  to  them ;  who,  on  the  con- 
trary, had  avowed  their  subjection  to  the  British  Crown,  and  had 
been  restrained  from  joining  his  Majesty's  troops.  Some  were 
tried  by  a  Court  Martial,  in  1777,  for  aiding  the  enemies  of  the 
States.  In  1778,  seven  (out  often  who  w^ere  convicted)  were  ex- 
ecuted at  Albany,  for  assisting  General  Burgoyne's  parties  with 
horses,  &c.,  on  his  march  to  Saratoga.  In  1779,  two  persons 
were  hanged  at  Philadelphia,  for  aiding  General  Howe,  while  the 
King's  troops  were  in  the  actual  possession  of  that  part  of  the 
country  w^herein  the  assistance  was  given. 

"  But  it  is  not  improbable  that  the  Congress  will  deny  the  in- 
ference Lord  Cornwallis  would  deduce  from  these  facts,  and  insist 
that  the  American  States  being  declared  free  and  independent,  the 
temporary  possession  of  any  part  of  them  by  the  British  troops 
must  be  considered  as  a  mere  invasion  of  a  foreign  enemy.  How- 
ever, may  it  not  be  said  that  even  upon  that  principle  the  law  of 


256  THE      LIFE      OF 

arms  will  justify  his  lordship  ;  for  having  conquered  a  certain  dis- 
trict, and  put  it  to  the  inhabitants  to  make  their  option  of  the  pre- 
dicament they  chose  to  stand  in  for  the  future,  and  they  having 
voluntarily  sworn  allegiance,  and  voluntarily  renounced  the  pro- 
tection alTorded  them  ;  that  thus  becoming  subjects  de  novo,  they 
were  proper  objects  of  punishment  1 

"  It  is  a  matter  of  no  small  curiosity  to  observe  the  mutual  al- 
tercations of  parties  in  England.  The  Ministerialists  are  continu- 
ally pointing  out  instances  of  patriots,  who,  when  in  administra- 
tion, acted  the  part  they  now  do ;  and  the  patriots  retort  the 
charge.  These  are  perhaps  the  only  instances  wherein  both  par- 
ties have  truth  on  their  side." 


PETEll      VAN     SCHAACK.  257 


C  11  A  P  T  E  R    X  1 1  . 

Wk  have  seen  that  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  sentiments  in  rcGcard  to 
the  American  Revolution  were  pecuhar.  Altliough  he  decidedly 
condemned  the  conckict  of  the  Home  government,  he  was  yet 
opposed  to  taking  up  arms  in  opposition  to  it.  His  precise  views 
on  this  subject  are  best  gathered  from  his  own  writings,  which  have 
already  been  spread  before  the  reader.  These  present  those  nice 
and  discriminating  views  and  distinctions,  those  tints  and  shades  of 
opinion,  which  are  very  necessary  to  be  regarded,  and  even  studied, 
to  do  justice  to  his  sentiments.  With  his  views  and  mode  of  rea- 
soning, he  probably  could  not  take  up  arms  against  the  Colonies, 
because  he  condemned  those  measures  of  o-overnment  which  con- 
stituted  the  grievances  complained  of;  and  considering  Biitain  as 
so  far  in  the  wrong,  he  was  not  disposed  to  interpose  obstructions  to 
those  measures  which  his  countrymen  saw  fit  to  adopt,  in  the  exer- 
cise of  that  right  of  private  judgment  which  in  his  own  case  he  held 
to  be  sacred  and  inviolable.  He  could  not  favor  the  warlike  atti- 
tude assumed  by  the  Colonies,  because  he  considered  their  welfare  to 
be  identified  with  a  continued  union  with  Britain,  and  that  success 
to  the  American  arms,  by  dissolving  that  connection,  would  but 
increase  their  embarrassments,  and  terminate  in  anarchy  and  ruin. 

Another  and  a  prominent  reason  was,  that  he  did  not  believe 
that  the  obnoxious  measures  orii^inated  in  "  a  desiirn  to  enslave." 
He  gave  ministers  credit  for  integrity  of  purpose.  Charity  formed 
a  prominent  trait  in  the  character  of  Peter  Van  Schaack.  In  can- 
vassing the  actions  of  individuals,  he  always  sought  for  a  good 
motive ;  and  that  same  principle  which  led  him  on  all  occasions 
to  place  the  most  favorable  construction  on  the  conduct  and  mo- 
tives of  individuals,  he  applied  to  rulers.  Entertaining  such  opin- 
ions, he  could  not  reconcile  it  with  his  views  of  duty  to  involve  the 
country  in  a  civil  war,  of  which  he  entertained  the  deepest  horror. 

33 


258  THE      LIFE     OF 

In  accordance  with  these  opinions,  (and  it  shows  the  consistency 
of  his  conduct  with  his  declared  sentiments,)  he  assumed,  at  the 
commencement  of  hostilities,  the  stand  of  neutrality,  which  he 
conscientiously  and  inviolably  maintained.  It  is  believed  that  no 
enlarged  mind  can  doubt  the  sincerity  of  his  conduct ;  nor  is  it 
strano-e,  that  such  a  man  should  have  retained  the  confidence  and 
friendship  of  the  most  eminent  whigs  of  the  Revolution. 

The  situation  of  Mr.  Van  Schaack,  at  the  capital  of  the  British 
empire,  gave  him  an  admirable  opportunity  for  ascertaining  how  far 
ministers  were  entitled  to  that  credit  for  honesty  of  intention,  in 
their  measures  against  the  American  Colonies,  which  he  had  so 
charitably  accorded  to  them.  It  was  here,  after  a  residence  of 
more  than  a  year,  that  his  opinions  on  this  subject  underwent  a 
change; — a  circumstance  which  imparts  to  that  change  no  small 
degree  of  interest. 

The  following  papers  were  found  among  IMr.  Van  Schaack's 
manuscripts.  That  which  will  be  first  given,  indicates  a  mind 
undergoing  a  change  of  sentiment  by  deliberate  reasoning. 

"  January,  1780. 

"  I  have  always  considered  in  a  high  light  the  duty  individuals 
owe  to  the  government  they  voluntarily  live  under,  and  which  they 
are  protected  by.  A  temporary  suspension  of  this  protection, 
owing  to  an  unhappy  combination  of  circumstances,  (the  desire  of 
affording  this  protection  being  evidenced  by  endeavors  to  accom- 
plish it,  founded  on  a  rational  hope  of  success,)  does  not  in  my 
opinion  cancel  the  obligation.  Private  inconveniences,  as  such, 
cannot  cancel  it. 

"  I  have  considered  the  rights  and  obligations  of  sovereign  and 
subject  as  reciprocal,  as  founded  in  a  civil  compact  and  involving 
mutual  conditions,  which,  like  other  civil  compacts,  is  religiously 
to  be  observed  while  it  continues,  but  which,  being  conditional  and 
mutual,  is  liable  to  dissolution.  The  dissolution  of  such  a  com- 
pact, is  an  inference  to  be  deduced  from  a  variety  of  circumstances, 
always  perplexed  and  intricate. 

"  Whether  a  government  in  a  civil  war,  proceeding  in  a  hope- 
less cause,  has  still  a  right  to  the  obedience  of  such  as  think  it 
originally  was  right,  is  a  great  question.    The  hopelessness  of  such 


PETER      VAN     S  C  II  A  A  C  K* .  259 

a  cause  can  Lc  only  matter  of  opinion  ;  but  lliat  opinion,  bein<T  free 
and  unbiassed,  and  deliberately  weighed,  is  the  best  guide  a  man 
can  have. 

"  A  man  forming  his  idea  of  the  rectitude  of  a  government  from 
wliat  he  knows  at  the  time,  may  change  it  in  consequence  of  facts 
coming  afterwards  to  his  knowledge,  without  impeachment  of  his 
firmness,  or  the  rectitude  of  his  princi])les,  for  what  can  we  reason 
but  from  what  we  know  ?  A  firm  man  is  he  who  adheres  to  prin- 
ciples, however  great  their  difference  in  the  application.  A  man 
adhering  to  a  party  right  or  wrong,  is  an  obstinate,  not  a  firm  man. 

"  A  man,  an  American,  may  have  taken  side  with  Great  Bri- 
tain upon  these  two  grounds  :  1.  Because  the  proper  remedies  were 
not  pursued  by  Congress  (whatever  he  might  think  of  rights).  2. 
Because  he  thought  a  reunion  (then  practicable  in  his  opinion) 
would  be  productive  of  the  real  happiness  of  that  country. 

"  A  man  may,  upon  a  full  information  of  the  proceedings  of 
both  sides,  think  it  a  matter  in  point  of  right,  and  from  the  errors 
on  both  sides,  indifferent  which  side  he  joins.  For  instance,  is  it 
not  equally  the  duty  of  both  sides  to  prevent  a  civil  war  ?  Is  not  the 
adopting  measures  obviously  leading  to  it,  as  much  incumbent  on 
the  government  as  on  the  people  1  Is  not  the  neglect  of  the  ob- 
vious means  to  prevent  it,  equally  culpable  on  both  sides  ?  and 
supposing  a  man  is  thoroughly  convinced  of  this,  may  he  not  inno- 
cently take  either  side  ?  and  duty,  to  government  out  of  the  ques- 
tion, is  he  not  right  in  regarding  his  interest,  especially  when  that 
coincides  with  what  he  owes  to  his  own  country  ? 

"  A  man  is  to  have  due  regard  to  the  interest  of  himself  and 
his  family,  but  should  take  care  not  to  let  it  bias  him  from  his  duty, 
which  to  his  country,  as  in  every  other  instance,  must  prevail  over 
interest.  But  the  question  then  will  be.  What,  under  all  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  case  at  this  time,  is  his  duty  ? 

"  In  the  American  dispute,  those  siding  with  Great  Britain 
meant  to  promote  the  interest  of  that  country,  by  attaching  them- 
selves to  this,  and  thought  they  were  pursuing  and  aiding  the 
means  to  accomplish  this.  The  aggrandizement  of  Great  Britain 
could  be  but  a  secondary  motive,  inseparably  connected  with  the 
welfare  of  America. 

"  If  it  should  appear  to  such,  the  actual  situation  of  things  con- 


260  THE     LIFE     OF 

sidereil,  that  a  reunion  cannot  take  place;  that  the  connection  is 
irretrievably  broken  ;  that  the  continuance  of  the  war  is  perpetuat- 
ing the  misery  of  his  own  country  without  promoting  the  just  views 
of  this  country ;  that  the  greatest  happiness  of  America  is  to  put 
a  period  to  the  war, — what  part  ought  such  a  man,  an  American, 
having  his  whole  property,  all  his  dependence,  and  the  tenderest 
connections  in  that  country,  to  take  ? 

"  I  do  not  think  an  American  bound  to  promote  the  views  of 
Great  Britain,  when  they  are  directed  only  to  weaken,  to  cripple 
America,  and  not  to  recover  her;  or  when  that  recovery  is  only 
hoped  for,  from  the  ruin  and  destruction,  by  conflagration,  pesti- 
lence and  famine,  of  America. 

"  I  always  presuppose,  that  the  man  thus  situated  holds  him- 
self bound  by  the  natural  and  revealed  laws  of  God,  (those  revealed 
laws,  however,  so  understood  as  to  make  the  social  compact  be- 
tween sovereign  and  subject  only  a  civil  compact,  capable  of  dis- 
solution,) and  that  he  has  taken  due  pains  to  acquire  information 
before  he  passes  a  definitive  sentence  to  direct  his  own  mind. 

"  My  conduct  (the  consistency  of  which,  however  insignificant 
to  others,  is  to  me  of  the  utmost  importance)  shall  be  the  result  of 
a  serious  regard  to  the  above  principles,  and  such  others  as  may  be 
dependent  on,  or  connected  with  them.  In  weighing  the  truth  of 
them,  I  expect  a  candid  interpretation,  and  that  my  obvious  mean- 
ing will  not  be  rejected  on  account  of  any  inaccuracies  of  language. 
My  conduct  I  hope  will  be  judged  of  only  by  such  as  will  think 
w^ith  candor,  who,  before  they  pass  sentence,  can  place  themselves 
in  my  situation,  and  who  will  put  such  a  construction  upon  my  ac- 
tions as  they  would  think  just  to  be  put  on  their  own,  were  our  sit- 
uations reversed." 

This  paper,  with  his  usual  characteristic  pertinence,  is  endorsed, 
''  Less  a  friend  to  doctrine  than  to  truth. — Prior." — '^Terras  astra 
reliquit.^^ — In  that  which  follows,  will  be  seen  the  conclusions  at 
which  his  mind  arrived. 


a 


When*  in  the  course  of  our  conversation  you  heard  my  politi- 


*  There  is  no  date  upon  this  paper.     It  was  probably  written  in  the  early- 
part  of  1750. 


r  !•:  T  E  i:    van    «  c  ii  a  a  c  k  .  2G 1 

cal  principles  upon  general  questions  of  government,  which  you 
said  were  strictly  agreeable  to  those  of  Mr.  Locke,  and  other  dis- 
tinguished advocates  for  the  rights  of  mankind,  you  seemed  to 
intimate,  that  the  part  1  had  taken  in  the  American  contest  was 
incompatible  with  those  principles.  I  told  you  I  thought  1  could 
convince  you  to  the  contrary,  but  rather  than  do  injustice  to  myself, 
(not  having  leisure  to  enumerate  all  the  arguments,)  I  chose  for 
the  present  to  labor  under  the  imputation  of  having  drawn  a  con- 
clusion at  variance  with  my  premises. 

"  It  is  not  uncommon  lor  men  of  equal  understanding,  acknow- 
ledging the  same  rule  of  right,  and  upon  the  same  established 
facts,  under  certain  circumstances  to  apply  that  rule  to  a  particu- 
lar case,  not  only  differently,  but  in  direct  opposition  to  each  other. 
If  this  be  the  case  where  facts  are  not  contested,  how  much  more 
scope  is  there  for  a  contrariety  of  opinion  when  the  facts  them- 
selves are  doubtful ;  where  there  are  a  variety  of  circumstances 
equivocal  and  clashing  w-ith  each  other,  and  when  we  are  to  decide 
upon  facts  at  a  distance  through  the  medium  of  contradictory 
proofs.  If,  in  balancing  those  proofs,  different  men  draw  different 
inferences  and  give  different  verdicts,  they  cannot  but  apply  the 
rule  of  ri^^ht  differently.  The  right  of  resistance  is  not  more  clear 
in  the  abstract,  than  the  right  of  adhering  to  government.  The 
one  or  the  other  becomes  our  duty,  according  to  the  circumstances 
of  each  particular  case. 

"  I  was  bred  up  in  a  passionate  fondness  for  the  British 
Constitution.  What  might  have  been  the  effect  of  partiality  in 
English  writers,  I  found  confirmed  by  the  suffrage  of  foreigners. 
The  idea  of  independency  seemed  to  me  to  involve  that  of  being 
deprived  of  that  constitution,  and  I  held  the  connection  therefore  as 
essential  to  the  preservation  of  that  constitution,  which  alone  could 
diffuse  the  happiness  I  expected  from  society.  From  all  the  proofs 
I  had,  I  could  not,  on  a  fair  estimate,  think  them  sufhcient  to  estab- 
lish the  fact  of  an  intention  to  destroy  the  liberties  of  the  Colonies. 
I  saw^  irregularities,  but  I  thoudittime  would  work  out  our  deliver- 
ance,  and  it  appeared  to  me  that,  balancing  conveniences  and  in- 
conveniences, we  were,  upon  the  whole,  a  happy  people. 

"  The  idea  of  a  civil  war  appeared  to  me  to  involve  the  great- 
est of  human  calamities,  and  I  thought  policy  should  make  that  in 


262  THELIFEOF 

US  the  last  resort.  It  would  let  in  a  torrent  of  vices,  with  which 
we  were  unacquainted.  I  thought  there  was  no  danger  from  prece- 
dents, because,  in  the  natural  progress  of  affairs,  we  should  prevent 
their  growing  into  prescription  ;  besides  the  public  disavowal  of 
the  principle,  which  would  destroy  the  implication  from  a  short  sub- 
mission, we  had  one  means,  that  of  a  non-importation,  which 
would  always  be  effectual.  It  appeared  to  me  that  it  was  not 
prudent  to  go  into  the  measures  we  did,  merely  in  opposition  to 
a  speculative  question.  In  short,  it  appeared  to  me  that  all  was 
not  done  which  might  have  been  done,  to  avert  the  horrors  of  a 
civil  war,  and  that  no  back  door  was  left  to  the  B.  P.  f  and  I  held 
it,  that  till  my  mind  was  thoroughly  convinced,  I  must  remain  inac- 
tive. He  that  appeals  to  the  Almighty  must  be  sure  he  has  right 
on  his  side. 

"  That  I  had  some  difficulties  in  my  mind,  however,  I  will 
frankly  own;  but  what  confirmed  me  the  more,  was  the  irregulari- 
ties I  saw  committed  by  the  people  in  power  on  the  other  side,  de- 
structive as  I  thought  of  the  principles  they  v/ere  contending  for, 
and  stretching  beyond  the  bounds  of  that  necessity  which  must  cir- 
cumscribe all  human  power.  I  feared  that  we  were  in  the  state  of 
Rome  after  the  death  of  Caesar,  and  that  we  had  only  the  choice 
of  masters.  In  this  situation,  Avithout  complaining  of  hardships  I 
underwent,  I  met  with  domestic  calamities,  and  found  the  effects 
of  a  fatal  disorder  in  one  of  the  tenderest  organs  of  the  human 
body,  which  required  me  to  take  the  ablest  opinions,  and  perhaps 
to  undergo  a  dangerous  operation. 

"  Upon  my  arrival  in  England,  I  have  attentively  endeavored 
to  procure  the  best  lights  I  could,  respecting  the  American  contro- 
versy, and  particularly  relative  to  the  designs  of  government  here, 
with  respect  to  the  article  of  taxation  and  raising  a  revenue  from 
America ;  the  sincerity  of  their  avowed  disposition  to  peace,  to 
redress  the  American  grievances,  and  to  remove  the  causes  of  their 
uneasiness  ;  and  how  far  they  had  really  acted  with  that  integrity 
for  which  I  gave  them  credit — and  how  far  they  had,  on  their 
parts,  fulfilled  the  duty,  which,  on  the  other  side,  I  had  thought  the 
rulers  deficient  in,  of  averting  a  civil  war,  and  with  what  kind  of 
temper  they  had  acted. 

*  British  railiaiueiit. 


PETER     VAN     S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  2G3 

"The  result  of  a  fiilr  invcsligallon,  wliich  has  cmployeil  much 
of  my  tunc  here,  is,  that  the  design  ot"  administration  was  to  (haw 
from  the  Colonies  a  substantial,  solid  revenue;  that  every  overture 
towards  accommodation  was  extorted  by  fears  arising  irom  ad- 
verse events,  and  couched  in  terms  of  ecjuivocation,  which  were 
meant  to  be  retracted  upon  a  change  of  circumstances  which  actu- 
ally has  happened  ;  that  the  real  design  w^as  to  enhance  the  influ- 
ence of  the  Crown,  by  multiplying  officers  dependent  on  it.  In 
short,  to  establish  in  the  Colonies  the  system  of  corruption  by^ 
which  their  government  here  is  carried  on.  For  in  examining  the 
constitution  of  this  country,  at  this  day,  by  its  principles,  it  is  clear 
to  me  that  it  has  no  longer  an  existence.  The  very  fountain  is 
polluted,  and  corruption  pervades  every  channel  of  power.  Par- 
liaments are  a  mere  sound,  and  the  majorities  are  subservient  to  the 
will  of  the  minister,  and  ready  equally  to  support  the  most  con- 
tradictory systems.  The  great  officers  are  abandoned  to  luxury 
and  dissipation,  and  the  public  is  plundered  to  promote  their  ex- 
travagances. No  man's  merit  carries  him  into  office,  but  merely 
his  Parliamentary  interest,  and  this  interest  over  a  set  of  venal  bo- 
roughs, which  are  bought  and  sold  like  the  ancient  villeins.  In 
short,  the  national  character  is  so  depraved,  that  there  is  not  spirit 
to  rescue  their  government  from  destruction. 

"  Under  these  circumstances,  I  find  my  mind  totally  absolved 
from  all  ideas  of  duty.  I  see  the  British  constitution  in  its  most 
essential  principles  totally  lost.  I  find  the  British  spirit  extinct. 
I  see  luxury  its  predominant  character,  and  power  in  almost  every 
department  centered  in  those  who  are  most  abandoned,  and  that 
class  of  people  who  might  have  virtue  to  rescue  the  government 
from  its  abuses,  excluded  from  office  because  they  have  not  the 
means  of  corruption.  Absolved,  therefore,  from  all  the  ties  of  al- 
legiance, I  consider  myself  now  as  a  citizen  of  the  world,  and  to 
my  native  country  am  I  dettrmined  to  return,  as  the  country  of  all 
others  the  dearest  to  me,  as  it  ever  has  been ;  for  I  never  can  be 
intimidated  from  avowing,  that  its  welfare  was  the  first  object  of 
my  views,  however  it  may  be  thought  that  I  had  erred  in  choosing 
the  means  to  promote  it." 

This  may  justly  be  pronounced  a  document  of  rare  interest,  and 


264  THE     LIFE     OF 

those  who  read  it,  will  have  no  difficulty  in  accounting  for  the 
readiness  and  perfect  satisfaction  with  which  Mr.  Van  Schaack 
conformed  to  the  new  order  of  things,  on  his  return  to  America.* 
Although  averse  to  many  of  the  public  measures  of  his  countrymen, 
he  had  never  been  bigoted  in  his  views.  To  use  his  own  language, 
he  aimed  "  to  view  things,  not  with  the  jaundiced  eye  of  prejudice, 
but  with  a  philosophic  expansion  and  liberality."  His  mind  was 
open  to  conviction  on  all  subjects,  and  candor  formed  another, 
and  a  prominent  trait  in  his  character.  He  had,  in  fact,  (as  he  ex- 
pressed himself  in  a  letter  to  a  friend,)  during  his  residence  in 
England,  "  held  a  language  rather  different  from  the  general  cur- 
rent ;"  and  the  candid  expression  of  his  sentiments  had  subjected 
him  to  the  charge  of  apostasy.  With  such  liberal  views  and 
feelings,  it  is  not  surprising  that  his  heart  should  pant  for  peace, 
and  that  he  should  have  hailed  its  approach  in  connection  with  the 
unconditional  acknowledgment  of  his  country's  independence,  with- 
out any  of  the  emotions  of  humbled  pride,  and  with  no  other  feelings 
than  those  of  marked  satisfaction. 

His  determination  to  return  to  his  native  country  was  frustrated 
from  time  to  time,  in  consequence  of  the  suspense  in  which  he  was 
kept  by  the  faculty,  in  regard  to  an  operation  upon  his  eye.  On  his 
arrival  in  England,  he  had  consulted  the  most  experienced  oculists, 
who  dissuaded  him  from  an  operation  for  fear  of  its  injuring  the 
sight  of  the  other  eye,  which  remained  unimpaired.  At  one  time, 
however,  he  determined  to  undergo  the  operation.  In  prospect  of 
a  fatal  result  he  proceeded  to  arrange  his  papers  with  the  greatest 
composure,  and  drew  his  will.     It  commenced  as  follows : 

"  In  the  name  of  God,  amen.  I,  Peter  Van  Schaack,  late  of 
the  city  of  New-York  in  North  America,  and  now  residing  in  the 
city  of  London,  being  in  the  full  possession  of  my  faculties,  and  in 
the  enjoyment  of  my  usual  state  of  health,  (except  a  complaint  in 
my  eyes  which  occasioned  my  leaving  my  native  country,  and  for 
which  I  am  soon  to  undergo  a  dangerous  operation,)  and  being  duly 

*  In  the  course  of  his  life,  the  author  never  heard  3Ir.  Van  Schaack  utter  a 
word  of  complaint  in  regard  to  the  treatment  he  had  received  in  the  Revolu- 
tion. His  own  sutferings  and  privations  were  entirely  lost  sight  of,  in  the 
satisfaction  which  he  derived  from  the  prosperity  of  his  country,  and  in  his 
devotion  to  the  education  of  her  youth. 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  2G5 

impressed  with  a  sense  of  the  precariousness  of  this  transitory  exist- 
ence, do  make  tliis  my  last  will :  First,  I  direct  my  just  debts  to  he 
paid,  and  also  my  funeral  charges,  which,  if  I  live  to  return  to  Amer- 
ica, are  to  be  at  the  discretion  of  my  executors;  but  if  I  die  in 
England,  I  limit  them  to  five  j)ounds,  because  I  will  not  sulTcr  the 
generous  regard  of  my  friends,  to  demonstrate  itself  in  this  unavail- 
ing and  useless  manner,  nor  a  fund  to  be  lessened,  which  stands 
appropriated  to  purposes  infinitely  dearer  to  me  than  any  thing  in 
life,  the  education  and  advancement  of  my  children." 

In  the  autumn  of  1780,  while  on  a  visit  to  his  brother-in-law, 
Henry  Cruger,  at  Bristol,  he  w^as  alarmed  by  an  attack  upon  the 
left  eye,  which  had  hitherto  been  sound.  He  thus  records  the 
circumstance  in  his  Journal : 

"  Sept  13th.  Having  for  a  few  days  past  discovered  symptoms 
of  a  cataract  in  my  left  eye,  (the  only  one  of  which  unfortunately 
I  have  had  any  use  for  four  years  and  a  half  past !)  I  set  out  for 
London,  in  order  to  counteract  so  alarming  an  attack. 

"  15th.  Mr.  Birch  being  out  of  town,  I  went  to  Mr.  John 
Hunter,  surgeon,  Jermyn-street,  who  advised  me  to  have  recourse 
to  electricity,  and  also  to  take  ten  grains  of  calcinet:  mercur: 
divided  into  so  many  pills,  one  each  evening  on  going  to  bed.  Mr. 
Hunter's  humane  behavior  to  me  merits  my  grateful  remembrance, 
having  most  politely  refused  taking  a  fee  from  me,  which  I  offered 
him  both  now  and  on  a  former  occasion. 

"  19th.  Mr.  Birch,  Essex-street,  being  returned,  I  resumed  his 
electrical  operations. 

"  21st.  He  cut  a  seton  in  the  back  part  of  my  neck,  which  I  pro- 
posed and  he  approved  of.  N.  B.  The  symptoms  of  the  approach- 
ing cataract  w^ere,  first  motes  and  flitting  clouds  passing  before  the 
eye,  and  afterwards  a  dimness,  which  makes  the  atmosphere  appear 
liazy,  print  considerably  diminished,  insomuch  as  to  require  a 
magnifying  glass  to  enable  me  to  see  characters  as  they  appeared 
just  before  to  the  naked  eye. 

"  From  the  16th  to  the  22d,  no  alteration  or  increase  of  the 
symptoms. 

"  23d.  Having  waited  on  several  persons  who  had  undergone 
surgical  operations  by  Baron  de  Wenzel,  I  called  on  the  Baron  in 

34 


266  THELIFEOF 

Sackville-street,  and  from  what  he  told  me  would  have  submitted 
to  his  operation,  if  Mr.  Hunter  did  not  dissuade  me. 

"  24th.  Having  stated  my  case  to  Mr.  Hunter,  he  advised  me 
against  the  operation,  till  I  had  made  a  further  trial  of  the  remedies 
I  was  in  the  use  of  I  told  him  of  my  determination  to  return  to  my 
native  country  in  the  spring,  and  that  as  the  Baron  was  going  away 
soon,  I  was  on  that  account  the  more  anxious.  But  as  he  told  me 
he  performed  the  operation  himself,  I  told  him  I  would  wait  as  he 
advised,  in  which  my  friends,  whom  I  consulted  on  the  subject, 
confirmed  me  by  their  opinions. 

*'  Oct.  17th.  I  am  rather  apprehensive  of  an  increase  of  the 
symptoms. 

"  19th.     Mr.  B.  took  the  silk  out  of  the  seton  in  my  neck." 

From  this  attack  he  seems  to  have  been  relieved,  for  a  time  at 
least.  In  the  "  resources  of  his  mind"  he  found  his  greatest  conso- 
lation against  the  severe  calamity  which  then  threatened  him,  and 
which  was  realized  some  years  after  his  return  to  America — a  state 
of  total  blindness. 

The  surrender  of  Lord  Cornwallis's  army  at  Yorktown,  was  the 
signal,  in  England,  for  the  abandonment  of  the  American  war, 
which  now  exhibited,  as  has  been  said,  the  rare  spectacle  in  history, 
of  the  capture,  by  one  and  the  same  party,  in  one  and  the  same 
w^ar,  of  two  entire  armies.  From  this  period,  the  large  majorities 
in  the  British  Parliament,  by  which  the  strong  measures  of  Lord 
North's  administration  had  been  sustained,  rapidly  diminished,  and 
the  ministry  of  which  he  was  the  head  was  soon  after  driven  to  a 
resignation.  A  few  extracts  from  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  diary  and 
notes  of  debates  in  Parliament,  will  here  be  introduced. 

"  Nov.  26,  [1781,]  arrived  despatches  of  the  surrender  of  Lord 
CornwalUs  and  his  army,  to  the  American  and  French  troops  at 
Yorktown,  in  Virginia.     The  capitulation  signed  19th  Oct.,  1781. 

"  Dec.  7th.     Remonstrance  of  the  city  of  London  to  the  King. 

"  10th.  Meeting  at  Westminster  Hall,  upon  a  summons  from 
the  Committee  of  Westminster,  and  a  petition  and  remonstrance 
agreed  to — one  passage  in  which  is  in  these  words  :  '  Such  of  our 
brethren  in  America  as  were  deluded  by  the  promises  of  your 
Majesty's  ministers,  and  the  proclamations  of  your  generals,  have 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K'  .  207 

been  surrendered  by  your  Majesty's  armies  to  the  mercy  of  their 
enemies.' 

"Dec.  lllh.  The  following  resolutions  were  moved  [in  the 
House  of  Commons]  by  Sir  .las.  Lowther,  and  seconded  by  Mr. 
Powis.  '  1.  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  House,  that  all  the  ellorts 
of  this  country,  either  to  protect  her  friends  in  tlie  thirteen  colonies 
of  North  America,  or  to  frustrate  the  designs  of  her  confederated 
enemies,  have  hitherto  proved  ineffectual.  2.  That  all  attempts  to 
reduce  America  by  force  to  obedience  to  this  country,  would  be 
prejudicial  to  the  interests  of  England,  and  weaken  her  power  to 
resist  her  ancient  and  natural  enemies.' 

"  Sir  J.  L.  The  country  in  a  wretched  state ; — Empire  dismem- 
bered ; — Fleets  everywhere  inferior ; — A  stain  which  time  could 
never  wear  out  had  been  fixed  upon  the  honor  and  laith  of  the  na- 
tion, by  a  most  cruel  article  in  the  capitulation  o(  Lord  C. 

"  Mr.  Powis.  Among  supporters  of  Ministry  were  many  gen- 
tlemen of  the  most  independent  fortunes  and  independent  minds  in 
the  kingdom.  From  what  motives,  or  upon  what  principles,  he 
could  not  so  much  as  guess.  Was  it  from  experience  of  their  abil- 
ities ]  the  strength,  or  number  of  their  allies  ?  or  the  knowledge 
they  had  of  the  resources  of  the  country  1  Mr.  Gibbon's  History 
of  Decline  of  Rome.  Valentinian  III.  Emperor  Honorius.  Reso- 
lutions only  say  that  America  must  not  be  the  theatre  of  the  war. 

"  Lord  JVorth.  Improper  to  continue  an  inland  continental  war 
in  America,  by  marching  armies  through  the  Colonies.  This  in  the 
present  circumstances  of  affairs  ought  not  to  be  carried  on.  Were 
"we  to  give  up  all  our  posts  in  America,  and  totally  withdraw  our 
troops,  or  w^ere  we  to  preserve  some  posts  ?  He  knew  there  were 
different  opinions  on  that  head.  W^e  have  friends  and  subjects 
within  our  lines,  who  contribute  to  consume  our  manufactures  and 
trade  which  would  be  injured  by  the  loss  of  our  posts.  To  keep 
troops  without  suffering  them  to  act  would  be  mere  parade.  If 
ministry  had  not  stood  supported  by  the  independent  country  gen- 
tlemen, their  administration  would  lonGT  since  have  tumbled  to  the 
ground.     This  the  terra  jirma  of  ministry. 

"  Sir  Flei.  JVorton.  The  noble  lord's  language  differed  from 
the  speech  from  the  Throne,  w'hich  was  to  be  considered  as  the 
speech  of  the  cabinet.     Not  a  shilling  should  be  voted  till  they 


268  THE     LIFE     OF 

had  unequivocal  proof  that  the  American  war,  to  which  the  coun- 
try owed  its  ruin,  was  to  be  given  up. 

"  Mr.  W.  Ellis.  If  troops  were  once  withdrawn  from  Amer- 
ica, the  forces  of  America  would  soon  follow  them  to  the  West  In- 
dies, and  the  fall  of  those  islands  would  be  the  consequence. 

"  Mr.  Calvert.  Would  our  withdrawing  the  troops  uncondi- 
tionally, insure  a  like  pacific  disposition  in  the  Americans.  Would 
it  not  cement  their  union  with  their  allies. 

"  Sir  Ed.  Deering.  Confidence  in  present  ministers — they  not 
the  authors  of  American  war.  He  dated  it  from  passing  Stamp 
Act — refused  to  accept  an  office  for  a  friend  from  the  then  minister. 
He  is  one  of  the  independent  country-gentlemen  who  support  Lord 
North — not  a  more  virtuous  character  in  the  kingdom.  The  noble 
lord  has  not  said  too  much,  for  the  people  now  seem  tired  of  the 
American  war,  and  therefore  he  had  done  well  in  telling  them  that 
he  did  not  mean  to  prosecute  it  as  in  last  campaign.  Present  min- 
isters, whigs. 

"  Sir  William  Dolhen  (another  country-gentleman).  Resolu- 
tions temperate,  and  look  forward  as  they  ought  to  do,  and  did  not 
retrospect ;  but  the  first  contains  a  truth  too  melancholy  to  be  sent 
into  the  world,  and  the  second  was  premature.  An  army  at  all 
events  necessary,  and  it  must  be  voted  before  the  executive  power 
is  directed  not  to  employ  it  in  America.  Let  gentlemen  of  both 
sides  speak  out ;  if  they  wished  to  have  the  posts  all  given  up,  let 
them  declare  it  openly — at  present  too  general — the  noble  lord 
founded  in  his  objection. 

"  Colonel  Barre.  Estimates  for  the  plantations  were  6000  odd 
hundreds  fewer  soldiers,  but  the  numbers  for  garrisons  were  10,000 
more ;  and  for  the  East  Indies  9000.     Navy  had  been  stated  at 

92  ships  of  the  line  in ,  six  less  than  last  year.     He  would 

not  say  that  New-York  ought  to  be  abandoned,  though  he  might 
not  think  Rhode  Island  more  proper. 

^^  Lord  JVorth.  Were  gentlemen  disposed  to  go  that  length — 
of  withdrawing  the  troops  ?  Were  they  ready  to  say  New-York  and 
its  dependencies  ought  not  to  be  kept,  either  as  a  post  whence  we 
might  annoy  the  common  enemy,  and  olTer  assistance  to  our  West 
India  Islands,  or  with  a  consideration  of  havino;  somethinGf  in  our 
hands  to  make  peace  with  ?     Or  might  not  Rhode  Island  be  taken 


r  K  T  E  11      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  2G9 

as  a  post  ill  the  cnsuiiif^  summer,  if  found  more  convenient,  more 
useful  and  more  tenable  ?  Were  their  minds  made  up  as  to 
Charleston  and  Halifax  ? 

"  Lord  Advocate  said  he  would  have  voted  against  Lord  North, 
if  he  had  not  been  so  explicit  as  to  altering  the  mode  of  carrying 
on  the  war. 

"  Lord  George  Germaine.  Abandoning  the  American  war 
would  be  a  project  weak,  dangerous,  and  impracticable.  Agreed 
with  Lord  North.  Hopes  of  better  success — King's  servants  united. 
New-York  and  its  dependencies  necessary  against  the  common 
enemy,  as  well  as  a  place  of  rendezvous  and  station  for  a  fleet 
nearer  than  Great  Britain  to  the  West  Indies.  Answers  the  com- 
parison between  New-York  and  Gibraltar.  Long  Island  and  Sta- 
ten  Island.  Stores,  &c.,  at  New-York  difficult  to  remove.  He 
never  would  sign  the  instrument  to  give  independence  to  America 
— that  moment  the  British  empire  would  be  ruined.  This  nation 
never  could  exist  as  a  great  and  powerful  people  unless  the  sove- 
reign was  sovereign  of  America.  The  moment  the  House  resolved 
on  independence  he  would  withdraw. 

*'  Sir  John  Wrottelsly  votes  against  Mo.  in  consequence  of  what 
fell  from  Lord  North.  Ministry  had  been  imposed  on  touching  the 
number  of  loyalists. 

"  Division  for  the  Mo.,       179 
"  against  it,         220 

41. 

"  Friday,  Dec.  14.  Upon  the  subject  of  the  supplies,  the  aro-u- 
ments  were  pretty  near  the  same  as  on  Sir  J.  Lowther's  motion. 

"  Cajit.  LutterelL  Ministers,  except  Secretary  of  American 
Department,  awakened  from  their  delirium  by  renouncing  the  idea 
of  subjugation — not  afraid  to  trust  them  now  with  force  to  procure 
an  honorable  peace — only  with  arms  in  our  hands  this  can  be 
done.  Not  so  bad  an  opinion  of  maritime  power  of  this  country 
with  proper  management — armed  neutrality,  a  cursed  confederacy. 

'■'Mr.  Rigby.  He  had  always  deemed  the  American  war  just 
and  necessary,  and  had  no  doubt  of  its  practicability.  Indepen- 
dence he  did  not  like  to  give  up,  or  to  renounce  the  war  loitil  we 
should  be  first  beaten.  That  day  was  novv'  arrived,  and  he  was 
tired  of  the  war,  because  he  saw  it  was  no  longer  practicable. 


270  THE     LIFE     OF 

Withdrawing  troops  from  New-York  he  was  afraid  could  not  be 
done  till  we  have  a  better  navy. 

"  Ministers  ought  to  let  the  House  know%  whether  they  were 
both  of  the  same  mind  (Lord  N.  and  Lord  G.  G.)  respecting  the 
mode  of  carrying  on  the  war. 

"  Lord  JS'^ugent.  Strange  logic,  to  renounce  the  war  and  yet 
boggle  at  granting  independence.  There  should  be  no  hesitation 
to  o^rant  it.  Other  powers  as  much  interested  as  G.  B.  against 
independence.  Fatal  to  Spain,  who  has  not  yet  acknowledged  it. 
The  Dutch  would  be  ruined,  and  supplanted  as  carriers.  Northern 
Powers. 

"  Gen.  Conway.  We  should  increase  our  navy,  and  make 
soldiers  serve  in  the  fleet,  and  to  that  end,  to  exercise  them  in 
working  and  fighting  great  guns.     He  had  done  so  in  Jersey. 

"  The  article  of  capitulation  which  gave  up  to  halters  and  the 
merciless  mercy  of  Congress,  the  companions  of  Lord  C.'s  arms, 
was  a  stain  never  to  be  worn  out ;  an  act  unparalleled  in  the  an- 
nals of  the  world.  The  abandoning  of  the  Catalonians  was  no- 
thing to  it :  for  the  latter  were  only  abandoned  to  themselves : 
they  had  a  town  and  strong  works  to  defend  them,  though  the 
allies  had  abandoned  them.  But  the  poor  Americans,  who  had 
fought  for  us,  bled  for  us,  and  been  the  companions  of  our  arms, 
had  been  delivered  up  to  gibbets  and  executioners.  Lord  C,  if 
his  men  had  not  refused  standing  by  them,  would  rather  have  per- 
ished than  capitulate  upon  terms,  which,  if  he  w^as  not  excused  by 
extreme  necessity,  would  have  damned  his  reputation.* 

"  Feb.  I8th.  Motion  of  JNIr.  Fox  for  a  resolution  that  there 
has  been  great  mismanagement  in  the  navy — rejected. 

"  22d.  Motion  of  Gen.  Conway  for  an  address  to  the  King 
that  he  would  discontinue  the  American  war  as  impracticable — 
rejected, —  194 

193 

majority  1. 

387 

"  27th.  Another  motion  of  Gen.  Conway  to  the  same  purport 
carried — majority  19. 

■^  See  Appendix  J,  for  a  sketch  of  a  debate  in  the  House  of  Lords,  4th  Feb- 
ruary, 1762,  in  regard  to  the  execution  of  Col.  Haynes,  at  Charleston. 


r  E  T  E  R      V  A  N      S  C  II  A  A  C  K  .  27  1 

"  March  Sth.  Motion  of  Lord  J.  Cavendish  for  an  address  for 
removal  of  his  Majesty's  ministers — rejected — majority  10. 

"  March  20tli.  Lord  North  informed  the  House  that  the  Min- 
istry of  this  country  was  at  an  end,  and  that  they  only  remained  in 
office  till  his  Majesty  should  appoint  others.  The  House  adjourned 
till  Monday,  the  25th. 

"March,  22d  1782.  Nothing  is  more  common  than  to  find 
certain  persons,  who,  upon  every  political  event  of  importance, 
trace  the  completion  of  their  predictions  in  it.  These  sybilline 
geniuses  keep  no  record  of  their  miscarriages,  and  when  they  are 
reminded  of  them  explain  them  away.  '  If  it  had  not  been  for  this, 
which  was  altogether  improbable,  or  if  that  had  been  done,  &c.' 
But,  before  they  arrogate  those  superior  powers  of  understanding, 
they  ought  to  be  able  to  show  that  they  comprehended  the  whole 
extent  of  the  subject,  and  that  they  made  allowance  for  those  cas- 
ualties which  have  produced  their  favorite  events.  It  will  be  a 
lesson  of  humility  and  of  further  use,  to  preserve  a  diary  of  one's 
thoughts  upon  subjects  of  a  political  nature,  and  of  his  conjectures 
upon  the  probability  of  events  before  the  issue  is  known. 

"  The  late  changes  here,  occasion  a  variety  of  opinions  as  to 
what  measures  will  be  pursued  with  respect  to  America ;  what 
effects  they  will  produce  upon  the  minds  of  the  people  in  that 
country,  and  whether  the  result  will  be  a  peace,  and  whether  that 
peace  will  be  a  partial,  or  a  general  one  :  what  kind  of  an  alliance 
subsists  between  America  and  France,  and  whether  the  former 
is  bound  to  carry  on  the  w^ar  in  conjunction  with  the  latter,  sup- 
posing Great  Britain  acknowledges  her  independence. 

"The  present  topics  of  conversation  arise  from  this  question, 
What  is  now^  to  be  done  ?  For  my  part,  I  take  it  for  granted,  that 
the  new^  administration  will  immediately  apply  to  the  several 
agents  and  ministers  of  the  United  States,  who  are  at  the  different 
Courts  in  Europe,  as  well  as  to  the  Congress,  with  overtures  for  a 
peace,  or  truce,  and  will  signify  their  readiness  to  accede  to  inde- 
pendency, for  the  purpose  of  attaining  a  peace,  and  that  to  that 
end  they  will  recognise  and  meet  them  as  an  independent  power. 
I  suppose  this  will  bring  about  a  Congress  of  Plenipotentiaries 
from  the  belligerent  powers.  Great  Britain  will  then  ratify  to 
America  the  full  object  of  her  contest,  and  it  is  to  be  supposed 


272  THE      LIFE     OF 

that  will  satisfy  her.  Should  France  insist  upon  holding  America 
to  a  continuance  of  the  war,  it  will  then  be  known  what  the  trea- 
ties between  the  two  powers  are.  If  they  are  treaties  of  equality , 
America  will  then  judge  for  herself  what  part  she  will  take,  actu- 
ated on  the  one  part  by  a  sense  of  gratitude  to  her  ally,  and  on  the 
other  by  a  desire  of  peace.  Should  her  necessities  have  compell- 
ed her  to  enter  into  partial  stipulations  in  favor  of  France,  which 
I  do  not  believe,  the  latter  will  with  a  very  ill  grace  insist  upon 
them,  or  urge  them  as  an  obstacle  to  the  very  object  America  en- 
enlisted  for,  and  that  which  France  professed  as  the  motive  of  her 
interference. 

"  The  idea  of  a  partial  negotiation  with  America  is  prepos- 
terous, but  a  general  Congress  promises,  I  think,  a  general  peace. 

"  It  is  not  improbable  that  the  French  and  Americans  have 
agreed  upon  the  conquest  of  the  West  India  Islands  for  their  joint 
or  separate  benefit ;  but  this  agreement  must  have  a  rational  con- 
struction, and  can  be  only  \)\n(}Lmg  flagrante  hello.  Preservation  is 
one  thing.  Conquest  another.  An  agreement  with  respect  to  the 
former  is  absolute,  and  all  is  to  be  risked  by  all  the  parties  in 
favor  of  the  one  endangered ;  but  as  to  conquest,  that  can  be  bind- 
ing no  longer  than  while  there  is  a  reasonable  prospect  of  success ; 
and  of  this,  America  is  as  much  a  judge  as  her  ally.  I  verily 
believe  that  the  terms  of  agreement  are  '  terms  of  reciprocity '  and 
of  equality,  for,  although  the  French  may  have  had  sinister  views, 
I  am  clear  in  my  opinion  that  they  have  not  disclosed  them  as  yet, 
and  this  I  conclude  from  their  enlarged  and  liberal  conduct  on 
other  occasions.  Their  ambition  does  not  descend  to  little  advan- 
tages. They  sacrifice  partial  and  great  objects  to  those  which  are 
still  greater  and  more  comprehensive. 

"  It  is  said,  that  it  is  manifest  the  French  mean  to  have  footins: 
in  America,  of  which  they  will  not  be  dispossessed,  by  their  hold- 
ing Yorktown.  But  were  they  not  called  in  by  America  ?  Did  not  a 
plenipotentiary  extraordinary  (Col.  Laurens)  go  over  to  solicit  an 
armament;  and  are  they  to  remain  without  fortifications  for  their 
own  defence  1  There  is  not  a  spark  of  evidence  to  prove,  nor  the 
shadow  of  a  reason  to  conjecture,  that  it  is  not  perfectly  agreeable  to 
Congress,  and  even  that  it  is  not  at  their  request,  that  the  French 
troops  remain  there.     Nor  are  the  Americans  without  manifest 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  273 

advantage  from  them,  sincu  it  prevents  tlie  necessity  of  their  raising 
troops  of  their  own,  and  leaves  their  inhabitants  at  liberty  to  bestow 
their  tinie  on  tillan^e,  manufactures  and  commerce,  as  well  as  in 
ship-building  and  privateering. 

"  The  option,  1  fear,  is  between  two  extremes  only,  either  to 
make  a  general  peace,  or  to  continue  the  war  against  France, 
America,  Spain  and  Holland.  The  practicability  of  a  separate 
peace  I  have  no  idea  of.  Administration  have  great  difficulties: 
on  the  one  hand,  their  favorable  disposition  to  the  Americans;  on 
the  other,  the  power  of  the  French  marine. 

"  March  25th,  a  new  ministry,  being  a  total  change,  the  Lord 
Chancellor  Thurloe  only  excepted." 

In  the  new  arrangement,  the  Marquis  of  Rockingham  was 
appointed  first  lord  of  the  treasury,  the  Earl  of  Shelburne  and 
Charles  James  Fox,  secretaries  of  state ;  the  latter  for  the  northern, 
and  the  former  for  the  southern  department,  which  last  included 
the  charge  of  American  affairs.  Mr.  Burke  held  the  office  of  pay- 
master-general of  the  forces. 

The  administration  of  the  new  ministry  was  of  but  short  dura- 
tion. The  Marquis  of  Rockingham  died  suddenly,  on  the  first  of 
July.  On  the  filth,  a  schism  in  the  ministry  w^as  disclosed,  and  Mr. 
Fox  and  Mr.  Burke  resigned  their  respective  stations,  and  were 
followed  by  nearly  all  their  associates  in  office.  The  ostensive 
ground  for  this  abrupt  secession  from  the  cabinet,  was  an  alleged 
diflference  of  opinion  with  Lord  Shelburne  on  the  question  of  Amer- 
ican independence,  but  the  real  cause  was  believed  to  be  political 
disappointment  at  the  promotion  of  his  lordship.  Parliament  met 
early  in  December,  and  the  King's  speech  noticed  the  subject  of 
the  provisional  articles  of  peace  and  acknowledging  the  indepen- 
dence of  the  United  States,  which  had  been  entered  into  with  the 
American  commissioners  on  the  30th  November. 

The  opposition  to  Lord  Shelburne's  administration  was  now 
composed  of  two  factions,  the  one  headed  by  Mr.  Fox,  and  the 
other  by  Lord  North,  and  the  two  branches  of  this  motley  associa- 
tion, which  subsequently  formed  the  celebrated  coalition,  united  in 
condemning  the  provisional  articles  of  peace,  though  for  diffi^rent 
and  contradictory  reasons ;  the  real  object  of  both  being  the  over- 

35 


274     -  THELIFEOF 

turn  of  the  Shelburne  cabinet,  in  which  they  eventually  succeeded, 
though  in  its  consequences  involving  their  own  political  destruction. 
In  the  discussions  in  the  House  of  Commons  growing  out  of  this 
part  of  the  speech  from  the  throne,  Mr.  Fox  undertook  to  redeem 
a  public  pledge  which  he  had  given  in  July  previous,  of  disclosing 
the  reasons  for  his  resigning  office  at  that  time,  alleging  that  it 
was  because  the  Prime  Minister  instead  of  proposing  the  uncondi- 
tional acknowledgment  of  American  independence,  had  made  it 
a  term  of  peace  with  France.  The  Ex-minister's  reasons  were 
not  satisfactory  to  the  British  public ;  and  it  was  probably  upon 
this  occasion,  that  Mr.  Van  Schaack  entered  the  field  of  political 
discussion,  to  expose  the  inconsistencies  of  one  of  the  greatest 
statesmen  that  has  figured  upon  the  pages  of  English  history. 

"  Questions  proposed  to  a  certain  Ex-minister  '  of  distinguished 
ahilities,'  upon  the  subject  of  Ihe  independency  of  America,  and 
the  conduct  of  the  said  Ex-minister,  and  of  Lord  S — e,  with  respect 
to  it. 

"  When  the  new  ministry  came  into  power,  the  25th  March 
last,  (a  memorable  day  in  the  annals  of  this  country,)  was  there^ 
or  was  there  not,  at  that  time,  some  system  wuth  respect  to  Ameri- 
can independence  agreed  upon  in  the  cabinet,  pursuant  to  the  funda- 
mental principles  upon  which  that  administration  teas  formed  ? 

"  Was  not  the  distribution  of  the  great  offices  of  state  made 
agreeably  to  the  arrangement  settled  among  yourselves,  and  was 
not  Lord  Shelburne  placed  in  the  office  of  secretary  of  state  for 
the  southern  department,  and  did  not  such  his  department  compre- 
hend the  affairs  of  America,  while  yours,  as  the  northern,  was  dis- 
tinct from  them  ;  and  this  agreeably  to  the  arrangement  settled 
among  yourselves  ? 

"  When  Sir  Guy  Carlton  sailed  for  America,  on  the  8th  April, 
did  his  instructions,  or  did  they  not,  contain  a  recognition  of 
absolute  unequivocal  independence  ?  If  they  did  not,  how  could 
you  co-operate  in,  or  accede  to  any  measure  short  of  this,  or  to 
any  temporizing  measures  whatsoever  ?  If  they  did,  how  will  you 
account  for  your  subsequent  charges  against  Lord  S —  ? 

"  Did  you  not,  on  the  1st  July  last,  declare  in  the  House,  that 
you  would  not  have  come  into  office,  if  independence  had  not  been 


P  ]•  T  K  R      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  275 

agTced  upon  ?  And  did  you  not,  the  next  day,  declare,  in  answer 
to  Sir  Georf^e  Saville,  that  all  ins  Majesty's  ministers  were  unani- 
mous upon  this  point,  and  that  no  change  of  circumstance,  not  even 
the  stroke  of  Providence  (of  which  there  was  so  mekmcholy  an 
instance  in  the  death  of  the  noble  marquis)  could  prevent  the  sur- 
viving members  of  this  cabinet  from  adhering  to  this  principle? 

"  Was  not  this  declaration  made,  to  obviate  Sir  George  Saville's 
objections  to  the  bill  for  compelling  persons  holding  oflices  in  the 
West  Indies  and  America,  to  reside  ^Aere;  the  objections  of  the 
honest  baronet  being  founded  upon  the  jealousies  which  he  sup- 
posed the  Americans  would  entertain  from  that  bill,  as  if  their  in- 
dependence was  not  intended  to  be  acknowledged,  and  the  rather 
(as  he  urged)  because  Lord  Shelburne  was  generally  thought  to  be 
against  independence  ? 

"  Did  you  not  at  that  time  declare,  '  that  the  noble  lord,  of 
"whom  every  body  thought  highly,'  meaning  Lord  S.,  had  from  the 
necessity  of  the  case  become  a  proselyte  to  independence,  and  had 
even  brought  his  Majesty  to  think  favorably  of  it  likewise  ? 

"  Notwithstanding  all  this,  did  you  not,  on  the  9th  July,  one 
week  after  the  above,  declare  that  the  then  premier  (the  said 
noble  lord,  of  whom  every  one  thought  highly,  meaning)  '  was 
hostile  to  the  principles  of  Lord  Rockingham's  administration  ;  that 
you  had  quitted  the  cabinet  because  a  national  question  had  been 
carried  against  you ;  that  there  was  no  design  in  the  cabinet  to 
acknowledge  unconditional  independence  ;  that  Lord  North's  prin- 
ciples already  existed  there,  and  that  you  expected  his  adherents 
again  introduced  into  it  V 

"  Was  it  not  a  strange  jphcenoinenon^  that  while  you  was  hold- 
ing this  language,  concerning  a  noble  lord,  of  whom  the  iceek 
before  '  every  body  thought  highly,'  the  gazettes  were  filled  with 
addresses  to  the  King,  thanking  his  Majesty  for  taking  into  his 
councils,  men  who  had  the  confidence  of  the  people  ? 

"  Can  you  reconcile  these  seeming  contradictions,  and  will  you, 
the  man  of  the  people,  account  to  the  people,  why,  if  the  point  of 
independence  was  not  settled  to  your  mind,  you  could  remain  in 
office  from  the  25th  March  to  the  24th  June,  (I  will  allow  you 
a  week  before  the  marquis's  death,  when,  according  to  your  own 
account,  you  first  proposed  your  maierial  question,)  with  '  a  man 


276  THE     LIFE     OF 

hostile  to  the  noble  marquis's  principles,'  and  without  once  propos- 
ing the  aforesaid  material  question,  founded,  not  upon  '  a  shade  of 
difference,  but  upon  the  important  point  of  peace  or  war  V 

"  Would  the  noble  marquis  have  come  into  office,  or  remained 
in  it  till  his  death,  with  a  man  hostile  to  his  principles,  upon  the 
cardinal  point  of  the  independence  of  America,  and  would  he  have 
covenanted,  that  this  very  man  should  be  placed  in  that  very  de- 
partment ?  Would  Cato  suffer  Cataline  to  become  a  consul  ?  or 
would  Cato  have  taken  Cataline  for  his  colleague,  as  Mr.  Pitt  well 
observed  ? 

"  Did  not  Sir  Guy  Carlton  and  Admiral  Digby,  in  a  letter  to 
Gen.  Washington,  published  at  New-York  the  2d  August,  declare 
that '  his  Majesty's  commissioner  at  Paris,  was  authorized  to  pro- 
pose independence  in  the  first  instance,  and  not  to  make  it  the 
condition  of  a  general  peace  V 

"  Was  not  this  letter  of  2d  August  written  in  consequence  of 
despatches  sent  from  hence  in  the  middle  of  June  last,  and  were 
not  the  instructions  to  the  commissioner  at  Paris,  agreed  upon  and 
sent  to  him  while  you  was  in  the  Cabinet  ? 

"  Did  you  not  declare  at  the  W^estminster  meeting,  that  '  while 
the  Duke  of  Richmond  remained  in  office,  you  would  have  a  secu- 
rity that  no  wrong  measures  would  be  adopted  ;'  and  is  not  the 
Duke  still  in  office,  and  have  you  not  lately  taken  pains  spargere 
voces  ambiguas,  and  to  create  suspicions  of  the  integrity  of  the 
whole  present  administration,  for  is  not  an  attack  upon  the  prime 
minister,  an  attack  upon  all  who  continue  to  act  with  him  ? 

"  Have  not  the  Duke  of  Richmond,  and  the  other  colleagues  of 
Lord  S.  repeatedly  declared,  that  he  faithfully  adheres  to  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  administration  of  25th  March,  and  that  when  he  ceases 
to  do  so,  they  will  forsake  him  ? 

"  In  balancing  the  evidence,  therefore,  for  and  against  Lord 
Shelburne's  fidelity  and  sincerity,  shall  we  suffer  the  vague  charges 
of  one  or  two  discontented  individuals,  to  preponderate  against  the 
testimony  of  such  distinguished  characters,  as  those  who  remain  in 
office  with  his  lordship  1 

"  You  and  your  associates,  having  been  among  the  ins  as  well 
as  the  outs,  know  how  much  easier  it  is,  by  weak  arguments  to 
attack  and  embarrass  the  best  system  of  administration,  than  by  the 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  277 

strongest,  to  defend  it  against  the  cavils  of  faction  ;  and  lie  has  told 
the  public  (tlie  14th  June)  what  a  great  difference  there  is  between 
theory  and  practice.  But  he  measures  the  conduct  of  others,  by 
the  rigid  rules  of  theoretic  perfection,  and  defends  his  own,  by  the 
loose  doctrines  of  practical  expedience."* 

*  The  signature  assumed  was  probably  "  Candor."  This  was  not  the 
only  communication  from  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  pen  in  regard  to  the  ex-minis- 
ter, as  is  evident  from  the  following  vestige  of  another  of  his  manuscripts, 
which  evidently  preceded  the  one  in  the  text : 

"  I  have  ventured  thus  to  declare  my  sentiments  on  an  important  sub- 
ject, in  the  plain  unvarnished  language  of  common  sense.  With  those  who 
study  the  elegance  of  style  more  than  the  solidity  of  argument,  and  who 
would  sacrifice  truth  itself  to  a  well  turned  period,  or  a  brilliant  expression, 
I  shall  never  enter  into  competition.  The  conduct  of  administration  on  the 
present  important  occasion  appears  to  me  so  perfectly  defensible,  upon  every 
principle  of  national  policy,  that  in  my  opinion  they  merit  the  public  ap- 
plause in  a  most  eminent  degree.  No  discrimination  should  be  made  ;  the 
merit  is  due  to  the  whole  cabinet  of  the  25th  March  last.  It  was  the  basis 
upon  which  that  administration  came  into  power  ;  and  as  some  people  are 
weak  enough  to  believe,  that  JMr,  Fox  seceded  because  he  was  overruled 
when  this  measure  was  proposed,  1  shall,  nx  a  few  days,  publish  certain 
facts  and  dates,  which  will  evidently  show  that  this  was  not  the  true  cause  of 
his  abrupt  secession,  and  that  it  really  was,  as  Gen.  ConM^ay  observed,  occa- 
sioned only  by  a  "  shade  of  ditference," 


278  THE     LIFE     OF 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  features  in  the  character  of  Peter 
Van  Schaack,  was  his  fondness  for  youth.  This  trait  in  his  char- 
acter displayed  itself,  in  an  uncommon  degree,  at  an  early  age.  In 
a  letter  from  London,  he  says  :  "  My  room  is  in  holiday  times  filled 
with  the  children  of  persons  with  whom  I  have  but  slight  connec- 
tions, and  the  repetition  of  their  visits  convinces  me,  that  my  be- 
havior must  be  an  indication  of  the  feelings  of  my  heart."  This 
partiality  for  children,  while  it  shows  the  amiableness  of  his  dispo- 
sition, was  coupled  with  a  devotion  to  the  mental  culture  of  the 
rising  generation  which  could  not  be  surpassed. 

In  the  summer  of  1782,  a  young  lad,*  a  nephew  of  Mr.  Van 
Schaack,  was  sent  to  England  by  his  parents,  who  resided  in 
America,  to  be  educated ;  and  he  was  committed  to  Mr.  Van 
Schaack's  superintendence.  Upon  the  sudden  and  melancholy 
death  of  his  parents  shortly  afterwards,  and  within  a  few  days  of 
each  other,  the  guardianship  of  the  young  gentleman  devolved 
upon  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  by  whom  he  was  placed  in  a  gram- 
mar-school at  Twickenham,  a  village  situated  about  a  dozen  miles 
from  London.  As  Mr.  Van  Schaack  spent  most  of  his  time  in  the 
metropolis,  his  propinquity  to  his  orphan  ward  gave  him  frequent 
opportunities  of  personal  interviews,  which  he  improved  to  advance 
his  young  friend  in  his  studies,  and  in  the  cultivation  of  the  amiable 
qualities  of  the  heart,  evincing  a  conscientious  regard  for  the  faith- 
ful performance  of  the  trust  which  had  devolved  upon  him  under 
such  melancholy  circumstances.  In  the  intervals  of  their  separa- 
tion, he  corresponded  with  his  young  friend,  by  whom  his  letters 
were  carefully  preserved.  This  correspondence  so  beautifully 
illustrates  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  mode  of  intercourse  with  his  young 

*  Henry  Walton,  Esquire,  of  Saratoga  Springs. 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  279 

students,  as  well  as  his  scholarship,  that  no  apology  can  be  neces- 
sary for  placing  a  part  of  it  in  this  work;  especially  when  it  is 
considered  that  the  instruction  of  youth  employed  a  great  share  of 
his  time,  during  the  last  thirty  years  of  his  life. 

TO  H W . 

My  dear  Harry  : 

I  have  been  so  engaged  with  writing  and  other  matters  of 
business,  that  I  have  not  been  able  to  give  you  a  single  line,  or  to 
pay  you  a  visit;  but  I  hope  to  see  you  at  Twickenham  on  Satur- 
day, but  should  that  fail,  be  assured  I  shall  be  with  you  early  in 
the  next  week. 

I  wish  you  had  told  me  what  books  you  were  directed  to  read, 
and  how  you  have  found  the  air  of  Twickenham  agree  with  you. 
Every  thing  must  appear  new  and  strange  to  you  as  yet,  but  I 
hope  you  w^ill  soon  find  yourself  perfectly  happy  in  your  situation. 
It  is  for  your  own  good,  my  dear  boy,  and  you  must  not  repine. 
When  you  are  grown  up,  you  will  remember  with  pleasure  the 
days  of  your  schooling ;  and  you  must  not  forget  what  joy  it  will 
afford  your  tender  parents,  to  hear  that  you  are  making  progress 
in  your  studies.  Don't  neglect  your  grammar.  Concord  and  gov- 
ernment  you  know  are  the  great  points  you  must  attend  to,  other- 
wise your  writing,  speaking  and  translating  will  be  only  rudis, 
indigestaque  moles,  quam  dixere  chaos. 

Have  you  been  at  Tiddington  ?  If  not,  you  ought  to  pay  Mr. 
Franks  an  early  visit ;  but  if  I  see  you,  as  I  firmly  expect,  on  Sat- 
urday, we  will,  with  Mr.  Stretch's  permission,  go  together.  Your 
friends  at  Isleworth  must  also  have  your  grateful  attention  for  their 
civility.  You  should  make  a  memorandum  of  every  thing  you 
have  to  say  to  me,  that  nothing  may  be  forgotten.  Present  my 
respectful  compliments  to  Mr.  Stretch  and  the  ladies.  Beheve  me 
always,  my  dear  Harry, 

Your  affectionate  uncle, 
Thursday,  bth  Sept.,  1782.  Peter  Van  Schaack. 

TO   H W . 

My  dear  Harry  : 

I  set  out  for  Bristol  to-morrow^,  so  that  I  shall  not  have  the 


280  THE      LIFE     OF 

pleasure  of  seeing  you  for  at  least  a  fortnight ;  but  I  shall  expect 
to  hear  from  you  next  week.  Direct  for  me  at  Henry  Cruger's, 
Esq.,  Bristol.  Write  a  long  letter,  if  you  find  it  agreeable,  and 
tell  me  every  particular  about  your  health,  your  studies  and  your 
amusements.  I  hope  you  are  happy  in  your  situation ;  but,  my 
dear  Harry,  we  cannot  have  every  thing  to  our  mind.  We  must 
put  up  with  many  inconveniences  in  every  condition  of  life.  No 
one  is  free  from  care,  trouble  and  affliction  of  some  kind  or  another. 
We  must  be  thankful  for  the  benefits  we  enjoy,  and  be  patient  under 
adversity. 

I  had  no  letter  from  your  papa  by  the  last  vessel,  which  I 
believe  w^as  owing  to  the  indisposition  of  your  mamma.  He  himself 
was  also  unwell.  I  hope  we  shall  have  more  pleasing  accounts 
by  the  next  conveyance.  All  your  friends  inquire  kindly  after 
you.  God  bless  you,  my  dear  Harry,  and  believe  me  to  be 
Your  most  affectionate  uncle  and  friend, 

Friday,  13th  Sept.,  1782.  P.  V.  S. 

You  should  not  inclose  your  letters,  because  that  doubles  the 
postage.     Here  is  economy  for  you,  Harry. 

TO  H W . 

My  dear  Harry  : 

I  arrived  in  town  in  time  for  dinner,  though  I  walked  all  the 
w^ay,  and  paid  several  visits  along  the  road.  No  letter  from  Bris- 
tol as  yet,  but  if  your  uncle  does  not  come  up  to-morrow,  or  inform 
me  that  he  will  be  in  town  in  a  few  days,  1  shall  propose  your 
coming  about  next  Tuesday.  However,  this  I  will  leave  to  your 
own  choice. 

You  inquired  about  your  sisters,  my  dear  Harry.  They  are 
well  and  every  care  is  taken  of  them.  I  should  not  be  surprised  if 
your  aunt  Cruger  brought  one  or  two,  perhaps  all  three,  over  here. 
Be  assured  that  you  all  have  friends  who  will  take  care  of  you ; 
and  as  for  you,  my  dearest  Harry,  I  shall  consider  you  as  more  par- 
ticularly under  my  care.  My  own  son,  much  as  I  love  him,  shall 
not  have  more  of  my  attention,  and  your  happiness  it  shall  be  my 
constant  object  to  promote.  I  hope  you  consider  me  as  your 
friend,  and  be  assured  you  will  never  find  any  change  in  me. 
From  my  early  youth  I  never  yet  have  lost  the  friendship  of  any 


PETER      VAN     S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  28 1 

one,  and  even  those  who  took  the  opposite  side  in  the  puLhc  trou- 
bles of  our  own  country,  have  assuicd  me  of  the  continuance  of 
their  personal  regard.  Notwithslntidin!^  the  dlfrercnce  of  our  years, 
you  must  be  free  and  unreserved  with  me,  and  tell  me  every  "wish 
of  your  heart.  Don't  be  afraid  to  sj)cak  out,  and  write  to  me  as 
freely  as  you  would  to  one  of  your  companions. 

I  hope  you  will  keep  up  the  correspondence  you  told  me  you 
had  begun  with  one  of  your  fellow  students.  It  will  be  entertain- 
ing and  improving — utile  cum  dulcL 

Pray  do  I  write  plain  enough  for  you  ?  Tell  me  if  I  do  not, 
and  I  will  endeavor  to  do  better.  Present  my  most  respectful  com- 
pliments to  Mr.  Stretch,  and  the  young  ladies,  whose  kindness  to 
you  I  shall  never  forget.  Adieu  !  my  dear  boy,  and  believe  me 
always.  Your  affectionate  uncle  and  fiiend, 

lOlk  October,  1782.  P.  V.  S. 

Upon  recollection,  I  find  that  I  very  generously  took  back  the 
half  crown  I  gave  you. 

TO  H W . 

JVIy  dear  Boy  : 

Every  evening  this  week  have  I  expected  a  letter  from  you, 
but  I  do  not  find  fault,  because  I  feel  some  reproaches  of  conscience 
at  my  own  silence  ;  that  is,  I  feel  a  little  as  you  did  when  you  slept 
you  know  w4iere,  and  when  the  young  gentleman  did  not  do  quite 
as  he  ought  to  have  done  towards  the  old  gentleman.  But  old 
gentlemen  are  very  forgiving,  and  young  ones  ought  to  improve 
and  mend  their  ways.  I  hope,  my  dear  Harry,  you  have  exactly 
the  same  excuse  for  your  silence  as  I  have  for  mine ;  that  is,  a 
great  deal  of  business,  as  I  assure  you,  upon  my  honor,  that  I  have 
had  ever  since  you  left  me.  I  can  now  hardly  hold  my  pen,  as  you 
will  judge  by  my  manner  of  writing,  but  I  cannot  bear  the  thought 
of  your  being  one  moment  in  doubt  of  my  attention  to  you.  Never 
will  you  find  me  otherwise  than  your  warm  friend,  though  often 
grave  and  thoughtful,  and  sometimes  a  little  cross  or  so,  and  the 
like.  Our  friends  at  New-York  were  well,  your  sweet  little  sisters 
in  particular.  We  expect  a  fleet  soon,  and  I  hope  many  letters, 
and  I  am  not  without  some  expectation  of  seeing  your  uncle,  the 
Col.,  and  your  aunt. 

3G 


282  THE      LIFE      OF 

Uncle  Bristol  is  in  town,  and  has  been  for  several  clays,  and  yet 
\ve  have  not  seen  each  other  but  twice,  he  being  also  very  busy. 
He  begged  his  love  to  you  when  I  wrote.  Let  me  hear  from  you 
soon,  and  present  my  most  respectful  compliments  to  Mr.  Stretch 
and  the  ladies.     God  bless  you,  my  dear  boy. 

Yours  ever, 
Friday,  22d  A'^ov.,  1782.  P.  V.  Schaack. 

What  book  and  what  line  in  Virgil  are  you  now  at  ? 

TO  H W . 

My  dear  Harry: 

I  have  been  going  to  see  you  almost  every  day  since  last 
Thursday,  but  have  been  prevented  by  indispensable  business. 
When  I  see  you,  I  will  tell  you  at  least  in  part  what  this  business 
has  been.  To-day  I  must  be  at  'Change,  to-morrow  is  packet-day, 
and  on  Thursday  you  know  is  the  meeting  of  Parliament,  when  we 
shall  have  the  great  and  important  point  decided,  whether  the  war 
is  to  continue  or  peace  is  to  take  place.  I  dare  say  you  join  me  in 
praying  for  the  latter.  Suppose  you  should  come  to  town  on 
Thursday  morning  for  a  day  or  two,  when  you  will  see  the  parade 
of  the  King's  going  to  the  House  of  Lords.  I  could,  I  believe, 
get  you  in  to  hear  the  speech  from  the  throne,  but  it  would  be  too 
much  crowded.  However,  you  shall  see  both  Houses  of  Parlia- 
ment. If  you  have  the  least  inclination,  my  dear  boy,  I  beg  you 
will  present  my  compliments  to  Mr.  Stretch,  and  beg  in  my  name, 
that  he  will  permit  you  to  come  to  town.  Take  a  coach  from 
Picadilly.  Your  uncle  has  intended  to  go  to  see  you,  but  is  like 
me  confined  to  the  town.     When  do  your  holidays  commence  ? 

Let  me  hear  from  you,  and  how  you  are,  if  you  do  not  come 
to  town.  My  best  compliments  to  Mr.  Stretch  and  the  ladies,  and 
believe  me,  my  dear  boy, 

Your  truly  affectionate  uncle  and  friend, 

Tuesday,  11  o'clock  A,  J\L,  3d  Dec,  1782.  P.  V.  S. 

TO  H W . 

My  dear  Boy: 

I  ask  you  a  thousand  pardons  for  my  late  silence.  Your  fine, 
sprightly  letters  merited  a  better  return,  and  your  request  for  cash 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  283 

an  earlier  compliance.  I  am  so  pleased  with  the  accounts  I 
receive  of  your  cheerful,  manly  behavior,  and  of  your  erect  car- 
riage, that  I  will  deny  you  nothing.  Continue  to  go  on  in  this 
laudable  way,  and  my  friendship  for  you  will,  if  possible,  daily 
increase.  I  shall  have  great  pleasure  in  contributing  to  the 
enlargement  of  your  mind.  "  Delightful  task  to  rear  the  tender 
plant,  to  teach  the  young  idea  how  to  shoot,  to  form  the  youthful 
mind,"  &c.  This  is  from  Thomson,  to  whose  tender  heart  I  am 
willing  to  believe  yours  has  great  resemblance.  But  to  enable  me 
to  assist  you,  you  must  write  without  restraint,  and  lay  open  your 
whole  mind  to  my  view.  Believe  me,  I  have  not  forgotten  the 
time  when  I  was  young,  and  will  make  the  most  liberal  allowances 
for  every  thing,  but  the  vices  of  youth. 

I  have  conversed  an  hour  with  Mrs.  Drinkwater  about  you. 
Your  red  cape  I  am  afraid  must  be  taken  off,  or  the  poor  nymphs 
wdl  be  in  danger  of  their  little  hearts.  As  you  are  powerful,  you 
must  be  merciful,  and  take  care  of  your  own  heart,  too. 

Nutic  scio  quid  sit  amor.     Duris  in  colibus,  &c.     8  Eclog.  43. 

Your  friends  in  New-York  are  all  well,  and  your  uncle  Gerard 
and  my  brother  desire  their  most  affectionate  Welshes.  You  should 
WTite  to  the  former,  and  I  wish  you  would  write  once  more  to  your 
cousin  Harry,  though  he  does  not  deserve  it — but  do  it  for  my 
sake. 

You  say  nothing  of  your  studies.  Omne  tulit  punctum  qui 
miscuit  UTILE  cum  dulci.  'Tis  in  Horace.  Apropos  :  Do  you  know^ 
how  to  find  out  what  part  of  the  book  it  is  in  ?  Mr.  Stretch  will 
show  you  the  method,  and  it  will  serve  you  upon  other  occasions. 
A  little  dash  of  Latin  once  in  a  w^ay,  will  be  very  acceptable.  I 
have  a  plan  in  view  for  you  next  spring  w^hich  I  shall  communicate 
when  I  see  you.  Your  opinion  will  have  great  weight  with  me,  I 
assure  you.  Treat  me  with  confidence,  and  without  reserve,  and 
you  will  make  me  happy.     God  bless  you,  my  dear  boy  ! 

Yours,  ever, 

?>Oth  Mv.,  1783.  P.  V.  S. 

My  friend  Mr.  De  Peyster  is,  thank  God,  much  better.     He  is 
one  of  the  most  excellent  of  men. 

Poor  Jacob  has  been  in  a  pack  of  troubles,  and  among  others 


284  THE     LIFE     OF 

has  had  a  quarrel  with  John,  which  will  cause  his  reraoving  from 
Mr.  S.'s.  Suppose  you  was  to  write  a  letter  to  them  both,  recom- 
mending a  reconciliation.  We  are  all  subject  to  passion,  and 
therefore  to  give  offence ;  but  we  should  not  harbor  resentment, 
and  therefore  should  forgive.  In  most  quarrels,  both  sides  are  more 
or  less  in  fault.  "  To  err  \shuma?i,  to  forgive  divine."  Humanum 
est  errare  et  nesciie,  ens  entium,  miserere  mei!  This  idea  should 
be  always  present  to  us,  and  as  somebody  says,  "  anger  was  not 
made  for  such  a  frail  being  as  man  is."  Improve  these  hints,  and 
act  the  part  of  a  mediator.  Tell  them  you  have  heard  of  the 
quarrel  from  your  uncle. 

You  will  excuse  this  scrawl,  my  pen  having  been  in  want  of 
more  mending  than  my  poor  eyes  enabled  me  to  give  it.  Perhaps 
you  will  criticise  the  composition  of  my  letter,  too,  which  I  give 
you  leave  to  do,  and  promise  not  to  be  offended,  but  rather  will 
thank  you  for  it.  Tell  me  where  I  am  incorrect,  where  the  sen- 
tences are  unconnected,  and  where  my  meaning  is  obscure,  or  my 
quotations  inapplicable,  &c.,  et  eris  mihi  magnus  Jlpollo. 


TO  H W- 

My  dear  Harry  : 


I  thank  you  for  your  letter,  which  I  answer  with  the  more  plea- 
sure, as  I  can  inform  you  of  the  welfare  of  your  friends,  particu- 
larly of  the  sweet  little  girls. 

Your  uncle  and  aunt  here  are  of  opinion  you  should  learn  to 
dance  ;  7icque  tu  choreas  sperne,  jmer  ;  so  says  Horace  you  know, 
and  to  these  three  opinions  I  will  add  my  consent  as  the  fourth. 

You  don't  tell  me  one  word  about  your  old  friends,  Virgil  and 
Ovid ;  don't  let  the  parlcr  Frangois  shove  these  respectable  and 
venerable  ancients  out  of  your  mind.  How  goes  on  the  grammar  ? 
You  may  as  well  cut  off  your  right  leg  and  attempt  to  dance  a 
minuet  la  cour,  as  to  think  of  understanding  either  Latin  or  French 
without  this  necessary  help.  Get  all  you  can,  but  don't  foro^et 
what  you  have  acquired.  I  hope  Mr.  Stretch  has  escaped  from  the 
rioters  at  Portsmouth,  and  I  dare  say  when  you  heard  of  this  mob, 
you  immediately  turned  to  the  1st  Book  of  the  /Eneid  for  Virgil's 
description  of  one. 


PETER      VAN      S  C  II  A  A  C  K  .  285 

Ac  veluli  mngno  in  populo  ru7n  stepc  coorta  est 

Sedilio,  sccvitque  aniniis  ignobile  vulgus  ; 

Jumquc  faces  ct  saxa  volant.     Furor  anna  viinistr at. 

I  am  sure  you  would  be  displeased  witli  me,  if  I  was  to  tell 
you  that  this  is  at  the  152d  line,  so  don't  take  notice  that  I  have 
mentioned  it,  for  I  dare  say  you  have  it  by  heart,  as  well  as  the 
beautiful  lines  following — turn  forte,  &c. 

As  we  are  now  soon  to  enjoy  the  blessings  of  peace,  what  pretty 
sentiments  can  you  give  me  of  your  own,  or  what  quotations  from 
authors,  upon  such  a  happy  event  ?  While  you  consider  the  gen- 
eral benefits  of  it,  you  will  however  not  fail  of  pitying  our  unhappy 
countrymen,  who  are  banished  and  deprived  of  their  property. 
Don't  you  think  they  may  say — 

Nos  patrifE  fines  et  dulcia  linqnimus  arva  ; 
Nos  patriam  fugimus 

To-morrow'  evening  I  go  to  see  Mrs.  Siddons,  with  a  party  who 
have  taken  a  box.  I  wish  you  could  be  with  us,  but  as  this  can't 
be,  you'll  say  I  only  teaze  and  tantalize  you.  Apropos  :  Do  you 
know  the  derivation  of  the  word  tantalize?  It  is  from  Tantalus, 
whose  history  you  may  look  for  among  the  proper  names  in  your 
dictionary. 

If  you  knew  how  late  it  is,  and  how  fatigued  I  am,  you  would 
say,  uncle  you  are  too  good  to  WTite  so  long  a  letter  to  such  a  little 
fellow  as  I  am.     Thank  you,  Harry,  so  good  night. 

Yours  most  affectionately, 

Wednesday  night,  bth  Feb.,  1783.  P.  V.  S. 

TO  H W . 


London,  2Sth  Feb.,  1783. 
Last  night,  my  dear  boy,  I  received  your  letter,  and  thank  you 
for  it.  I  am  sorry  you  should  have  any  cause  to  charge  either  me 
or  yourself  with  neglect.  I  hope  w^e  have  too  much  friendship  and 
regard  for  each  other,  ever  to  slight  one  another.  On  my  part, 
be  assured,  that  when  I  do  not  write  so  often  as  you  may  expect, 
it  is  owing  to  my  being  taken  up  with  business,  and  that  business, 
my  dear  Harry,  often  concerns  you  and  your  sisters,  as  well  as  my- 
self and  your  cousins.     Apropos :  Suppose  you  w^as  to  write  a  few 


286  THE     LIFE     OF 

lines   to  your  kinsman    Harry,  at  Kinderhook?     I  expect  some 
vessels  will  soon  sail  for  America.     Your  uncle  intends  ffoinof  out 

o         o 

in  April. 

You  do  not  mention  your  having  been  indisposed,  and  yet  I  fear 
this  has  been  the  case  by  your  taking  medicine;  write  to  me  on 
this  subject,  and  let  me  know  whether  you  have  any  reason  to  sus- 
pect that  the  air  of  Twickenham  does  not  agree  with  you.  Be 
free  on  the  subject,  for  1  know  you  will  not  be  whimsical.  How 
are  the  boys  in  general  as  to  health  ?  Are  there  any  whose  con- 
stitutions resemble  yours,  and  how  does  their  situation  affect  theju  ? 

You  say  in  the  P.  S.,  "  My  courage  is  out."  Pray,  my  dear 
Harry,  explain  what  you  mean  by  this  immediately,  as  it  has  given 
me  uneasiness.  Whenever  any  thing  dwells  upon  your  mind, 
you  must  speak  out.  Am  I  not  yoMv friend  as  well  as  your  uncle  ? 
and  though  I  may  sometimes  be  a  little  peevish,  (which  you  know 
is  not  uncommon  with  old  gentlemen,^  yet,  be  assured  you  have  not 
a  friend  in  the  world,  who  loves  you  more  sincerely  and  would  do 
more  to  make  you  happy. 

How^  do  you  come  on  en  FranQois  ?  "VYhat  book  of  Yirgil  and 
Ovid  are  you  now  reading  ?  \Yho  was  the  man  who  was  turned 
into  an  olive  tree  ?  Tell  me  a  little  about  that.  The  olive  branch 
you  know  is  the  emblem  of  peace.  T  will  not  lengthen  my  letter 
for  fear  of  tiring  you  ;  and  w^ill  only  add  that  if  you  get  this  to- 
night, I  wish  you  would  let  me  have  a  line  by  to-morrow's  post, 
concerning  your  health  and  your  COURAGE.  My  respects  to  Mr. 
S.  and  the  ladies. 

Yours  most  affectionately, 

Friday.  P.  V.  Schaack. 

TO  H W . 


Dear  Harry  : 

"  My  courage  is  out,"  as says  in  the  Beggar's  Opera.     If 

you  had  expressed  yourself  in  this  manner,  I  should  not  have 
been  uneasy. 

Your  simile  is  pretty,  and  tranquillity  was  the  proper  word 
where  you  placed  it,  and  well  spelled.  Some  of  your  words  are 
not  quite  so  right  as  to  orthography.  You  have  mistaken  proscrip- 
tion for  prescription — suspicion  for  suspicion — of  for  off — present 


r  E  T  R  U     VAN     S  r  II  A  A  C  K  .  2S7 

for  prcsrnt — oppcvTi  for  o/)cra — roco/cct  for  rccoZ/ect — frc/nds  for 
frzVnds — alloiul  to  all  these  in  I'utuic. 

I  just  called  at  your  uncle's  but  he  was  out;  not  out  of"  his 
courage  I  hope,  but  out  of  his  lodgings.  I  will  desire  Mr.  Stretch 
to  give  you  some  fresh  courage.  I  promise  myself  the  pleasure  of 
soon  seeing  you,  but  cannot  say  precisely  when  it  will  be.  Tell 
me  a  little  about  Apulus,  for  I  do  not  remember  the  gentleman. 

The  ships  for  New-York  will  sail  in  about  a  month,  as  it  is 
supposed,  so  that  you  may  write  when  you  are  at  leisure.  How 
do  you  like  JNIr.  Stretch's  book  ?  Do  you  think  it  would  please 
and  instruct  your  cousin  Harry  ?  Are  there  any  passages  that 
have  given  you  particular  pleasure  ?  If  so,  just  tell  me  one  or 
two  of  them,  in  as  few  w^ords,  or  as  many,  as  you  find  agreeable  ? 
"What  parts  of  Virgil  and  Ovid  are  you  now  in  ?  Try  to  give  me 
a  little  dash  in  every  letter — verhiim  sat — sapienti — for  is  not  your 
uncle,  sapiens  vir  ? 

I  have  ordered  a  set  of  books  to  be  given  to  the  boy  in  the 
Kindeihook  academy,  who  shall  compose  the  best  exercise  upon 
the  blessings  o^  peace,  either  in  prose  or  in  poetry.  I  wish  some 
rich  man  would  do  the  same  thing  in  your  academy.  If  you  have 
any  poets  among  you,  try  to  get  them  to  make  an  ode  to  peace — 
but  propose  it  as  coming  from  yourself.  Present  my  most  res- 
pectful compliments  to  Mr.  Stretch  and  the  ladles,  and  believe 
me,  my  dearest  boy,  to  be 

Your  truly  affectionate  uncle  and  friend, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 


TO  H W- 

My  dear  Boy  : 


Your  last  letter  is  by  far  the  best  I  ever  received  from  you, 
and  on  that  account  has  given  me  very  great  pleasure.  You  can't 
imagine  how  much  it  w^ill  improve  you,  if  you  pursue  this  method  ; 
attention  is  the  thing  that  will  enable  you  to  surmount  all  difficulties. 
I  thank  you  for  the  story  of  Apulus,  and  when  I  see  the  poet,  I 
will  put  your  question  to  him  about  the  situation  of  the  cave  ;  but 
perhaps  the  nymphs  might  take  offence  at  such  an  inquiry  and 
turn  you  and  me  into  wild  olive  trees,  which  I  am  not  yet  prepar- 


2S8  THE       LIFE      OF 

eel  for — are  you  ?     You  see  these  ladies  are  terrible  beings  when 
they  are  insulted — tantane  animis  ccBlestihus  ircB  1 

I  wish  you  had  given  rae  a  little  sketch  of  the  simile  in  Virgil, 
as  well  as  of  the  fable  in  Ovid — one  Latin  sentence  at  least,  should 
now  and  then  embellish  your  letters.  Perhaps  you  are  afraid  of 
being  thought  'pedantic,  but  of  this,  between  you  and  me,  there  is 
no  danger.  Write  to  me  just  as  freely  as  you  w^ould  to  one  of 
your  companions,  and  lay  all  restraint  on  account  of  the  difference 
of  our  years,  aside.  I  was  much  pleased  with  the  beginning  of 
your  letter ;  some  people  think  they  ought  never  to  write  a  letter 
without  some  hackneyed*  expression  at  the  beginning  of  it  of  this 
sort — "  I  noW'  sit  down  to  WTite  you,  and  hope  these  few  lines  will 
find  you  w^ell  as  I  am  at  this  present  WTiting,"  or  "  I  received  your 
letter,  and  am  glad  you  w^as  well,"  &c.  &c. — and  then  the  conclu- 
sion— "  so  no  more  at  present,"  and  the  like. 

I  intended  to  have  scribbled  this  sheet  full,  but  have  been  so 
often  interrupted,  that  I  wull  confine  myself  to  a  few  subjects.  How 
is  your  health,  and  have  you  got  the  better  of  your  cold  ?  Your 
uncle  is  gone  out  of  town,  but  returns  in  a  fortnight  w^ith  Mrs.  C. 
Both  of  them  always  inquire  kindly  after  you,  and  send  you  their 
love.  I  think  you  should  write  one  or  other  of  them,  and  return 
them  thanks  for  their  civilities,  and  you  may  apologize  for  not 
doing  it  sooner,  as  you  expected  them  at  Twickenham.  The  ships 
for  New- York  are  nearly  ready,  and  therefore  you  have  no  time  to 
lose,  but  don't  WTite  in  a  hurry.  Pray  w^ite  to  your  cousin  at 
Kinderhook,  and  desire  him  to  let  you  know  the  rules  and  regula- 
tions of  the  academy,  how  he  disposes  of  his  time,  how  many 
scholars  they  have,  and  any  thing  else  you  like.  Wish  him  joy 
on  the  peace. 

I  am  in  haste,  but  always,  with  my  best  compliments  to  the 
ladies,  my  dear  Harry, 

Your  affectionate  friend, 
JYo.  23  Clwrch-st.,  Soho, )  P.  V.  S. 

17th-lSth  March,  1783.  S 


*  You  know  the  derivation  of  this  won!,  whicli  I  use  \vith  great  propriety 
now,  and  the  more  so  on  account  of  a  late  letter  1  had  from  Hackney,  you 
caia  guess  from  whom.       Verbum  sat. 


P  E  T  P:  R     VAN     S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  289 


TO   II W . 

Dear  Harry  : 

I  have  before  told  you  that  I  was  surprised  at  your  telhng  me 
you  intended  coming  to  town  on  Friday  last,  because  when  you 
left  me  but  a  few  days  before,  you  did  not  say  a  syllable  on  the 
subject,  which  you  had  an  opportunity  of  doing,  when  I  told  you 
of  my  intention  of  letting  you  come  for  a  day  or  two,  when  the  ex- 
hihition  opened.  Reflect  how  very  lately  jou  have  been  in  town, 
and  if  you  think  it  a  little  hard  to  be  at  school,  while  your  compan- 
ions are  at  play,  consider  that  you  was  from,  the  school  when  they 
were  at  their  studies.  Fatis  contrana  fata  rependens,  (Virgil,  1 
M.  243,) — that  is,  you  must  take  the  bitter  with  the  sweet.  Be- 
sides, the  country  is  now  so  delightful,  that  it  will  be  much  better 
for  your  health,  than  the  smoky,  noisy  town. 

You  conclude  your  letter,"  I  am  in  great  hast.''^  Now, Harry,  there 
is  not  in  the  English  language  such  a  word  as  hast ;  you  must 
therefore  have  omitted  some  letter — what  was  it  ?  Was  it  an  a  or 
an  e  ?     If  the  first,  then  it  will  make  the  Latin  word  hasta,  which 
is,  I  believe,  a  spear.     The  sentence  then  will  be, "  Dear  uncle,  I  am 
in  a  great  spear.     Yours  affectionately."     But  if  you  meant   to 
have  added  the  letters,  then  It  will  be,  "  I  am  in  great  haste,"  that 
is,  hurry.     Now  letters  written  in  a  hurry,  are  very  seldom  cleverly 
done;    however,   the  way  you    have   spelled   the  word,   proves 
you  was  in  a  hurry,  for  you  had  not  time  even  to  write  the  word 
out,  althouo-h  it  contains  but  five  letters.     But  to  be  serious,  let  me 
hear  from  you  soon,  and  don't  write  in  haste,  but  tell  me  what  your 
wishes  are,  and  what  your  plan  is  about  spending  the  next  week, 
and  be  assured  I  will  comply  with  them,  as  far  as  I  can  with  a 
prudent  regard  to  all  circumstances.     It  is  not  my  intention  to 
thwart  you,  or  to  interfere  with  your  innocent  amusements.     Your 
happiness  is  near  my  heart,  and,  be  assured,  I  consult  it  in  all  I  do 
towards  you. 

Present  my  most  respectful  compliments  to  Mr.  Stretch,  (to 
whom  I  would  have  written  if  I  had  not  been  indisposed,)  and  to 
the  ladies. 

Yours  most  sincerely, 
I9th  April,  1783.  P.  V.  Schaack. 

37 


290  THE     LIFE     OF 


TO   H W- 

My  deak  Harry  : 


I  did  not  receive  your  letter  last  night  till  after  the  post  hour, 
or  I  would  have  answered  it  immediately,  as  I  would  not  keep  you 
a  moment  in  suspense  about  my  being  satisfied  with  your  apology, 
which  I  am  most  'perfectly.  We  are  all  liable  to  errors,  but  a  can- 
did ingenuous  acknovledgment  should  atone  for  them.  Believe 
me,  my  dear  boy,  it  is  painful  to  me  ever  to  find  fault  with  you, 
but  my  love  for  you,  and  the  duty  I  owe  you  as  a  guardian,  will 
compel  me  to  perform  this  task,  when  I  think  it  necessary.  When 
you  grow^  up,  1  hope  you  will  be  convinced,  by  the  conduct  I  shall 
observe  towards  you,  that  I  have  been  your  friend,  a  name  which 
should  be  held  sacred-  I  will  now  beg  your  pardon  for  making  so 
free  with  your  letter  as  to  criticise  and  to  play  upon  some  of  the 
expressions;  as  there  is  no  displeasure,  I  hope  you  will  laugh 
at  it. 

I  am  almost  ashamed  to  think  how  often  I  am  oblis^ed  to 
change  my  intention  of  paying  a  visit  to  Mr.  Stretch's  agreeable 
family,  but  you  know,  my  dear  Harry,  how  much  I  am  taken  up 
with  the  concerns  of  others ;  but  as  we  must  not  live  merely  for 
ourselves  in  society,  it  is  a  duty  upon  us  to  devote  part  of  our  time 
to  our  friends.  It  is  a  pleasing  circumstance  when  we  can  make 
ourselves  useful  to  others.  I  fully  intended  to  have  spent  this  week 
in  the  country,  but  I  fear  it  will  be  out  of  my  power,  I  hope  you 
w^alk  about  a  good  deal.  I  shall  soon  write  to  you  again,  and  you 
must  excuse  my  present  haste,  which  is  always  pardonable  when 
there  is  a  good  reason  for  it,  but  never  else. 

My  respectful  compliments  to  Mr.  S.  and  the  ladies.     I  am, 
most  truly, 

Your  aflfectionate  uncle  and  friend, 
22d  April,  1783.  P.  V.  Schaack. 


TO  H W- 

My  dear  Harry  : 


I  heard  with  much  concern  of  your  headache,  and  your  long 
silence  since  has  increased  my  uneasiness.     Indeed  I  did  not  de- 


r  E  T  K  U      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  291 

serve  anotlicr  letter  from  you,  the  first  bein^  unanswered,  but  Ja- 
cob tells  me  lie  has  not  heard  iVom  you  since  you  mentioned  your 
indisposition.  I  will  not  attempt  to  justify  myself  against  your 
criticism,  and  shall  be  happy  that  you  will  continue  to  point  out 
my  errors.  This  will  be  actino;  that  friendly  part  by  me,  which 
I  do  towards  you  and  the  rest  of  my  friends,  old  and  young,  at  least 
the  sensible  ones.     A  fool  cannot  bear  reproof. 

Were  I  disposed  to  prevaricate,  or  to  twist  if ij,  I  would  remind 
you  that  I  said  it  was  a  general  remark  that  Virgil  never,  but  upon 
one  occasion,  gave  any  other  epithet  than  pius  to  the  hero  of  his 
admirable*  poem,  and  that  the  instance  you  mention  does  not  dis- 
prove the  remark.  It  was  only  in  somnis  that  he  appeared  ferns, 
and  dreams  you  know  ought  to  be  taken  the  contrary  way.  It  was 
only  to  Dido  that  he  seemed  ferns,  and  this  whilst  she  was  in  a 
state  of  frenzy.  However,  as  I  said  before,  I  submit  \o  your  re- 
mark, which  I  hope  will  be  a  prelude  to  others  as  occasions  offer 
in  the  course  of  your  reading.  But,  while  I  freely  decline  palliat- 
ing my  mistakes,  let  us  not  forget  to  observe  the  propriety  of  our 
amiable  poet,  who  uses  everywhere  such  expressions  only  as  are 
adapted  to  the  occasion.  Will  you  pardon  me,  and  pray  do  not 
think  it  is  by  way  of  retaliation,  that  I  think  yoa  are  too  general 
in  your  remark  that  there  is  no  belief  in  man.  Don't  think  too 
meanly  of  your  fellow  creatures :  but  I  suppose  you  mean  there  is 
no  infallibility  in  man  ;  so  far  I  agree  with  you,  and  I  would  not 
have  you  trust  to  any  man's  opinion,  uJiless  it  is  approved  by  your 
own  judgment. 

I  am  happy  to  hear  that  our  de^v  little  Nancy  is  well.  Kiss 
her  for  me.  Her  aunt  has  expected  to  hear  from  her ;  and,  by  the 
way,  you  ought  either  \o  write  to  your  uncle,  or  to  mention  both 
your  uncle  and  aunt  by  name,  instead  of  including  them  under  the 
general  description  o^  all  friends. 

Your  most  affectionate  uncle  ^ca^  friend, 
2Sth  April  1783.  P.  V.  S. 


TO  H W . 

Mv  PEAR  Harry  : 

I  thank  you  very  sincerely  for  your  two  obliging  letters,  and  I 

♦  By  the  by,  the  jEneid  is  an  Epic  poem. 


292  THE     LIFE     OF 

beseech  your  pardon  for  my  seeming  inattention  to  the  first.  Your 
politeness  is  such,  that  I  shall  not  be  able  upon  any  account  what^ 
ever  to  resist  your  invitation  any  longer ;  it  would  be  cruel  in  me 
to  let  Twickenham  languish  for  want  of  my  presence  ;  and  you 
may  assure  the  idthering  plants  and  drooping  flowers,  that  I  shall 
soon  come  to  enliven  them.  I  never  received  a  more  delicate  com- 
pliment in  my  life,  than  that  in  your  last  letter ;  it  would  be  a  fine 
subject  for  a  little  poem.  Suppose  you  were  to  make  an  attempt — 
perhaps  the  muses,  the  sacred  nine,  would  inspire  you.  Twicken- 
ham has  been  the  residence  of  the  muses,  you  know,  in  Mr.  Pope's 
day,  and  who  knows  whether  they  would  not  adopt  you  as  one  of 
their  favorites  ?  Young  gentlemen  have  a  proper  idea  of  the 
beauties  of  the  country  in  this  charming  season,  but  I  wish  they 
w^ould  sometimes  take  a  line  or  two  from  the  authors  they  read, 
the  Latin  ones  especially.  For  instance,  what  think  you  of  these 
lines  ? 

Nunc  .omnis  ager,  nunc  omnis  parturit  arbos 
Nunc  frondent  Sylva,  nunc  formosissimus  annus. 

If  you  will  find  me  two  prettier  lines,  eris  mihi  magnus  Apollo. 

I  hope  you  walk  and  jump  at  a  great  rate.  Keep  your 
head  up,  extend  your  arms,  open  your  chest,  breathe  free,  speak 
loud,  (n.  b.  not  in  company,)  &c.,  &c.  In  short,  I  expect  great 
things  of  you  w^hen  I  see  you,  so  don't  disappoint  me.  Prenez 
Garde.  Farewell,  my  dearest  boy,  and  believe  me  always,  whether 
cross  or  in  good  humor, 

Your  true  friend, 
7th  May,  1783.  p.  V.  S. 


TO  H W- 


London,  9th  Sept.,  1783. 
My  dear  Harry  : 

I  thank  you  for  your  letters,  and  am  much  pleased  with  your 
quotation.  I  did  not  experience  the  violence  of  ibe  storm  where  I 
was,  though  it  was  severe  enough  there.  After  I  left  you,  I  fell  in 
with  some  friends  at  Mortlake,  whom  I  accompanied  into  Kent 
where  I  staid  till  Monday.  By  the  by,  I  returned  very  sick,  in 
consequence  of  eating  too  much  fruit.  Mind  that,  and  take  warn- 
ing when  you  get  into  Mr.  F.'s  garden. 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  293 

I  am  sorry,  my  dear  Harry,  that  I  am  oblifred  so  o[Um  to  be  the 
bearer  of  bad  news  to  you.  Your  sister  Ellen  I  am  under  great 
anxiety  about.  She  had  taken  the  measles,  which  left  a  great 
weakness  that  was  very  threatening,  and  she  was  gone  to  try  a 
change  of  air  when  your  uncle  Gerard  wrote  to  me,  in  July. 
You  must  prepare  your  mind  for  the  worst.  God's  will  be  done, 
and  we  must  submit.  You  have  had  severe  trials ;  so  have  I,  my 
dear  boy,  but  time  and  patience  will  enable  us  to  bear  all  our  mis- 
fortunes, and  as  Providence  is  all-wise  and  all-good,  we  may  be 
sure  that  whatever  happens  is  for  our  own  w^elfare,  though  w^e 
cannot  perceive  it  at  present.  We  shall  all  meet  in  a  better  world, 
never  to  part  again.  Reflect  upon  these  things,  my  dear  Harry, 
and  be  resigned. 

Believe  me  always  your  most  affectionate  uncle  and  friend, 

P.  V.  S. 


TO  H W . 

Dear  Harry: 

I  am  always  pleased  when  you  put  a  question  to  me,  either 
upon  a  point  of  learning,  or  of  propriety  of  conduct  or  principle, 
and  I  am  the  more  pleased  when  you  give  me  your  own  sentiments. 
I  would  wish  to  encourage  you  to  use  the  utmost  freedom  with  me 
on  these  occasions,  for  though  there  is  a  certain  degree  of  deference 
due  to  those  who  are  older,  and  have  had  more  experience,  yet  I 
would  not  have  you  take  any  opinion  or  tenet  upon  the  mere  ipse 
dixit  of  any  man  w^hatsoever.     I  perfectly  agree  with  you  that 
friendship  is  preferable  to  relationship  ;  so  far  as  our  regard  and 
esteem  are  concerned — these  are  seated  in  the  heart,  and  are  the 
tribute  due  to  merit  alone.     But  there   are  external  marks  of  re- 
spect, which  we  are  bound  to  pay  to  those  whom  nature  has  con- 
nected us  with,  independent  of  their  merit.     But  when  we  find 
merit  united  with  relationship,  we  owe  a  peculiar  degree  of  atten- 
tion to  the  person   answering  this  description.     I  will  not  apply 
these  principles  to  the  case  you  mention,  but  leave  you  to  think 
once  more  of  what  I  suggested,  the  propriety  of  which  /  am  most 
perfectly  convinced  of,  but  shall  be  ready  to  hear  your  sentiments 
upon  further  reflection.     "  Do  as  you  would  be  done  by,"  is  one  of 
the  most  admirable  rules  in  the  world.     Suppose  the  case  reversed. 


294  •  THE     LIFE     OF 

suppose  your  uncle  Gerard  in  his  letters  to  me,  desired  his  love  to 
a.\\  friends  without  mentioning  you  ;  would  you  not  think  yourself 
a  little  slighted,  and  would  he  be  justified  in  saying  in  his  vindica- 
tion, what  you  say  in  yours?  I  assure  you,  my  friend  Harry,  I 
would  give  judgment  against  him. 

Do  you  know  what  I  mean  by  ipse  dixit  ?  It  was  an  expres- 
sion made  use  of  by  the  disciples  of  an  ancient  philosopher,*  whom 
they  supposed  infallible,  and  therefore  whenever  any  of  them  had 
a  dispute  upon  any  question  of  philosophy,  or  literature,  the  one 
that  could  quote  this  philosopher's  saying  upon  the  point,  would 
cry  out  with  exultation,  ipse  dixit — "  He  has  said  it,"  and  this  put 
an  end  to  the  argument  without  further  discussion.  What  a  de- 
basement of  the  human  mind  were  these  students  guilty  of,  and 
what  overbearing  arrogance  in  the  master  !  I  fancy  this  will 
illustrate  your  idea  in  your  preceding  letter. — We  call  this,  "  pin- 
ning our  faith  upon  another's  sleeve." 

I  hope  I  do  not  puzzle  or  tire  you  with  my  remarks.  I  some- 
times use  hard  words  on  purpose  to  make  you  turn  to  your  diction- 
ary, and  thereby  to  enable  you  to  enrich  your  language.  To  have 
only  one  set  of  words  and  expressions  upon  all  occasions,  is  like 
always  wearing  the  same  clothes.  A  copia  verborum  resembles  a 
well-stored  wardrobe,  and  an  injudicious  selection  of  words,  not 
adapted  to  the  subject  we  are  upon,  to  the  particular  occasion,  or 
to  the  person  we  address  ourselves  to,  is  as  absurd  as  it  would  be 
to  go  into  Cheapside  in  a  full  dress  at  a  Lord  jMayor's  show,  and 
into  a  drawing-room  in  a  flopped  hat  and  boots. 

My  respects  to  Mr.  S.  and  the  ladies,  and  love  to  Nancy. 

Yours  ever, 
23d  Feb.,  1784.  P.  V.  Schaack. 

TO  H W . 


My  dear  Harry  : 

By  the  by,  I  wish  you  could  contrive  to  get  blacker  ink,  for 
the  sake  of  my  poor  eyes. 

I  approve  much  of  your  riding  on  horseback,  and  you  will  pre- 
sent my  best  compliments  to  Mr.  Stretch,  and  request  the  favor  of 


*  Ask  Mr.  Stretch  what  his  name  is. 


PETER     VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  '295 

him  to  speak  to  the  master  of  the  stables  and  make  the  best  bar- 
gain he  can.  Good  temper  in  a  horse  is  as  necessary  as  it  is  agree- 
able in  a  companion,  and  horses  as  well  as  men  have  their  vices. 
Yon  will  shun  both,  but  with  this  difFerence,  that  though  you  may 
cross  a  vicious  man,  you  ought /jo/  io  cross  a  vicious  home.  The 
appearance  and  make  of  the  animal,  or  even  his  gait,  (provided 
he  is  sure-footed,  which  is  a  sine  qua  non,)  are  also  circumstances 
not  to  be  regarded — ihc  graces  may  in  this  case  be  dispensed  with. 
INlind  that  you  sit  erect,  en  cavalier.  Wlien  your  Rosinante  is 
fixed  upon,  let  me  know,  and  give  a  description  of  him  either  by 
your  pen  or  pencil,  for  you  are  competent  to  both. 

The  old  philosopher,  I  believe,  was  Aristotle,  (or  as  he  is  called 
by  some  low  female  character  in  a  play,  Harry  Stottle,)  but  I  am 
really  not  positive.  Whether  it  was  he  or  not,  it  will  be  well  for 
you  to  look  into  your  dictionary  for  an  account,  short  as  it  is,  of 
him.  He  is  often  called  the  Stagyrite,  from  the  name  of  the  place 
of  his  nativity.  He  was  a  man  of  amazing  abilities,  and  one  of 
those  whom  Pope  describes  as  holding  a  conspicuous  place  in  the 
temple  of  fame — I  read  it  to  you. 

You  say  you  will  think  before  you  speak.  Don't  act  upon  the 
reserve  with  me.  It  will  be  no  disgrace  to  you  to  be  set  right  by 
your  uncle  and  friend.  Do  not  check  yourself,  but  express  your 
thoughts  freely.  If  they  are  exceptionable,  you  do  yourself  honor 
to  confess  your  errors.  Humanum  est  errare  et  nescire.  If  you 
never  utter  a  sentiment  for  fear  of  being  wrong,  you  will  cramp 
your  faculties.  A  ship  should  have  sails,*  as  well  as  ballast,f  and 
a  compass.t     I  cannot  at  present  descant  upon  this. 

Your  cousin  is  confined,  as  I  suppose  he  has  told  you,  by  a  cut 
in  his  lip.  I  am  sorry  for  the  manner  in  which  he  got  it  -,  and  as 
it  is  an  invariable  rule  with  me,  to  deal  candidly  with  my  young 
friends,  and  to  give  praise  and  blame,  as  the  one  or  the  other  is  de- 
served, I  have  freely  expressed  my  displeasure.  This  is  inter  nos. 
A  rap  at  the  door. 

I  am  your  truly  aifectionate  uncle, 
U  March,  1784.  P.  V.  S. 

*  Imagination.  ]  Judgment,  discretion.  |  Reason. 


296  THE     LIFE     OF 


TO   H W- 

My  deaFv  Harry  : 


I  was  extremely  pleased  with  your  letter,  because  the  reason 
you  assign  for  not  being  at  school  punctually,  is  a  good  one.  I 
would  not  for  the  world  you  had  given  so  bad  a  one  as  I  feared 
you  would,  and  I  ask  your  pardon  for  harboring  such  a  suspicion  : 
but  my  anxiety  that  you  should,  upon  all  occasions,  act  up  to  the 
principles  of  honor,  candor  and  good  sense,  must  be  my  apology. 
I  will  do  by  you,  as  I  would  wish  a  friend  to  do  by  my  son  in  my 
absence,  and  that  you  will  allow  is  a  good  rule.  If  I  ever  violate 
this  rule,  I  should  be  glad  to  have  it  pointed  out,  and  you  will  find 
me  open  to  conviction. 

Let  me  know  how  you  are  going  on  in  your  literary  travels. 
What  stages  have  you  put  up  at  lately,  and  who  were  your  com- 
pany, and  what  your  bill  of  fare  l  You  must  have  made  a  num- 
ber of  military  acquaintances  since  you  visited  Troy.  Tell  me 
which  of  them  are  your  favorites ;  or  have  you  quitted  the  din  of 
arms  to  accompany  the  sage  Ulysses  and  the  affectionate  Tele- 
machus  ? 

Qui  mores  hominum  multo7'um, 
Et  urbcs,  viderunt.         Hor. 

Write  me  a  long  letter  when  you  are  in  a  humor  for  it,  but  not 
till  then.  In  the  utmost  haste  I  write,  which  I  prefer  to  not  writ- 
ing at  all,  that  I  may  remove  any  suspicion  you  might  entertain 
about  my  opinion  of  your  conduct,  after  you  have  so  fully  cleared 
it  up  to  the  satisfaction  of 

Your  ever  affectionate  uncle, 

30th  July.  Van. 

TO  H W . 


My  dear  Harry  : 

I  promised  to  write  to  you,  and  I  did  not  do  it ;  am  I  then  guilty 
of  a  breach  of  my  engagement,  or  not  ?  I  will  submit  it  to  your- 
self, after  you  have  considered  whether  the  following  reasons  have 
any  force  or  not.  The  motive  for  my  making  this  promise,  was  to 
give  you  an  opportunity  of  taking  leave  of  your  young  friends,  who 
are  going  out  of  the  kingdom,  and  that  you  might  be  enabled  in 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  297 

your  return,  to  pay  a  visit  to  your  friends  at  Mortlake.  Now  it  so 
happened  that  neither  of  these  objects  could  have  been  obtained, 
had  I  written  to  you  to  come  to  town ;  and  that  being  the  case, 
and  the  design  of  your  visit  being  frustrated,  was  not  the  visit 
itself  to  be  given  up?  and  if  so,  was  there  any  obligation  upon  me 
to  WTite  ?  You  should  always  distinguish  between  the  essence  of 
a  promise,  and  iheform  of  it. 

I  shall  go  to  Yorkshire  on  Monday,  for  a  fortnight  or  more ;  if 
you  want  any  thing  in  my  absence,  write  to  Mr.  Dumont  for  it.  I 
cannot  help  once  more  expressing  my  approbation  of  vour  conduct 
on  Sunday  last,  which  I  have  mentioned  to  your  uncle  Gerard,  who 
I  am  sure  \\\\\  be  highly  pleased  with  it.  The  principles  of  honor, 
and  a  spirit  of  independence,  I  wish  to  see 

"  Grow  with  your  growth  and  strengthen  with  your  strength." 

That  only,  my  dear  Harry,  can  make  you  like  a  character, 
which,  of  all  others,  you  ought  most  to  study  to  imitate. 

I  thank  you  for  your  observations  on  the  heroes  of  Homer.  He 
is  the  noblest  of  poets,  and  has  never  been  exceeded,  though  he 
was  the  earliest.  1  was  much  pleased  with  the  observation  of  a 
Frenchman,  who  happened  not  to  know  any  thing  of  this  illustrious 
bard  till  he  was  advanced  in  years  :  "  Why,"  says  he,"  ever  since 
I  read  this  poem,  men  appear  to  be  twenty  feet  high."  Did  you 
ever  see  these  lines  of  Dryden  ? 

"  Three  poets  in  three  distant  ages  born, 
Greece,  Italy  and  England  did  adorn  : 
The  first  in  loftiness  of  thought  surpassed, 
The  next  in  majesty  ;  in  both,  the  last. 
The  force  of  nature  could  no  farther  go. 
To  make  a  third,  she  joined  the  former  two." 

Homer,  Virgil,  Milton. 

Yours  affectionately, 
2lst  August.  P.  V.  S. 

TO  H W . 


Beverley,  Yorkshire,  1st  Oct.,  17S4. 
My  dear  Harry  : 

Your  "  school-letter,"  as  you  call  it,  has  reached  me  in  this  re- 
mote place,  and,  as  letters  from  my  friends  never  fail  of  doing,  has 

38 


298  THE      LIFE     OF 

given  me  great  pleasure.  In  point  of  style,  sentiment  and  orthcg- 
raphy,  it  is  unexceptionable.  I  wish  the  ink  had  been  less  pale. 
The  satisfaction  you  express  in  your  present  situation,  affords  7ne 
real  pleasure.  Upon  the  whole,  my  dear  Harry,  I  flatter  myself 
you  are  in  the  right  track,  and  being  so,  1  have  no  fear  of  your 
quitting  it.  You  are,  however,  just  now  at  a  time  of  life,  when 
you  must  lay  a  foundation  for  the  character  you  are  to  sustain  in 
your  manhood.  It  is  a  critical  period,  and  calls  for  the  exertion  of 
all  the  powers  of  your  mind.  It  would  hurt  me  beyond  expression 
to  hear  any  thing  unfavorable  of  you.  J\Iy  reason,  and  the  know- 
ledge I  have  of  the  goodness  of  your  heart  and  your  regard  for  the 
principles  of  honor,  tells  me  there  is  no  room  for  fear  or  doubt ; 
at  the  same  time,  my  anxiety  for  your  happiness,  and  my  determi- 
nation to  discharge  with  fidelity  the  trust  reposed  in  me,  with  res- 
pect to  you,  will  not  allow  me  to  be  silent.  You  do  not  mention 
our  dear  Nancy,  who  I  hope  continues  well  and  happy.  Give 
my  tenderest  remembrance  to  her.  She,  too,  has  a  great  share  in 
my  anxiety,  but  not  so  much  as  you,  because  if  you  answer  the 
expectations  of  your  friends,  she  w^ill  have  the  benefit  of  your  at- 
tainments, and  I  shall  resign  my  trust  to  you,  or  at  least  admit  you 
to  a  participation  of  it,  with  great  pleasure. 

A  melancholy  event  happened  here  yesterday  morning.  The  only 
son  of  Mrs.  Burton  died  after  a  very  few  days'  illness.  I  dined  in 
company  with  him  that  day  se'nnight,  at  a  club  where  he  w^as  presi- 
dent, when  he  was  in  perfect  health  and  spirits.  Next  Tuesday 
was  the  day  fixed  for  his  marriage  w^ith  an  amiable  young  lad}'. 
What  a  transitory  life  this  is,  and  how  precarious  all  our  enjoy- 
ments, and  uncertain  all  our  prospects  ! 

Yours,  affectionately, 

P.    V.    ScilAACK. 


TO  H W- 

Dear  Harky  : 


You  say  you  will  be  in  town  the  16th.  Be  it  so.  I  shall  always 
be  happy  to  see  you,  at  the  same  time  I  perceive  that  it  makes  your 
vacation  of  a  longer  duration  than  I  could  wish;  but  this  j^ou  can't 
help  ;  and  it  makes  your  stay  longer  in  London,  also,  than  you  can, 
I  fancy,  make  agreeable  or  useful  to  yourself;  this  we  will  endeavor 


r  K  T  E  R      VAN      S  C  II  A  A  C  K  .  299 

to  help.  I  coukl  wish  you  to  \mn<r  some  books,  Virgil  one  of  them, 
that  we  may  travel  over  the  ground  you  have  lately,  I  hope,  made 
yourself  master  of.  Of  that  sweet  poet  w^e  may  say,  decies  repdita 
placcbil.  Pope's  Homer  will  nfTord  you  fine  relaxation,  when  your 
mind  is  wearied  with  intense  application.  Your  French  must  also 
be  kept  clear  from  rust. 

You  and  I  will  be  near  neighbors,  which  I  hope  will  be  as 
agreeable  to  you  as  it  most  undoubtedly  is  to  me.  I  shall  wish  for 
some  serious  conversation  with  you,  and  all  I  wish  and  pray  of 
you,  is  to  have  attention.  At  the  same  time,  don't  apprehend  that 
I  mean  to  make  your  vacation  unpleasant  or  laborious  to  you.  I 
feel,  my  dear  Harry,  the  importance  of  the  trust  reposed  in  me  with 
respect  to  you,  and  I  wish  to  discharge  it  with  fidelity  and  honor ; 
with  a  sacred  regard  to  the  memory  of  the  deceased,  and  with  an 
affectionate  attention  to  your  welfare,  happiness  and  advancement 
in  life  !  We  shall  not  lono^  be  tosrether,  and  I  wish  to  have  it  in 
my  powder  to  give  a  satisfactory  account  of  you  to  your  friends  in 
America,  to  your  uncle  Gerard  particularly.  I  shall  neither  ex- 
aggerate nor  extenuate,  but  speak  just  as  I  think  of  you.  This 
has  been  ray  maxim  wHth  respect  to  all  the  young  gentlemen  whom 
I  have  been  desired  to  pay  attention  to,  or  concerning  whom  I  have 
been  desired  to  WTite  my  sentiments.  If  you  cultivate  the  talents 
nature  has  bestowed  upon  you,  if  you  cherish  the  good  qualities 
which  you  inherit  from  one  of  the  most  amiable  of  men,  be  assured 
you  will  get  through  life  with  honor  and  reputation ;  in  short,  all 
depends  on  yourself.  Excuse  me  for  being  so  grave.  I  cannot 
help  it.  As  our  separation  approaches,  I  grow  more  and  more 
anxious. 

How  is  Nancy  ?  My  tenderest  love  to  the  dear  girl.  Kiss  her 
for  me.  If  you  have  any  money  left,  give  it  to  her  ;  if  not,  desire 
Mrs.  Pomeroy  to  give  her  a  guinea,  which  she  may  charge  in  the 
account,  or  I  will  repay  it.  I  propose  paying  a  visit  to  Mr.  F., 
upon  w^hom  pray  call  with  my  compliments.  Present  my  compli- 
ments also  to  Mr.  Stretch  and  the  ladies. 

I  am  your  affectionate  uncle — Dleu  vous  ait  en  sa  sainte  garde  ! 
■  44  Frith'St.,  \3th  Dec.  P.  V.  S. 


300  THE     LIFE     OF 


CHAPTER    XIV. 


Political  distinctions  involved  in  the  Revolution,  had  for  sev- 
eral years  interrupted  ]Mr.  Van  Schaack's  intercourse  with  many  of 
his  early  friends.  His  once  bosom  companions,  John  Jay,  Egbert 
Benson,  Theodore  Sedgwick  and  Gouverneur  Morris,  and  most  of 
his  associates  in  College  and  at  the  Bar,  were  prominent  and  un- 
compromising whigs.  The  civil  war,  and  his  peculiar  sentiments 
W'ith  respect  to  it,  had  placed  him  in  a  position  with  regard  to 
these  friends,  which  did  but  ill  accord  with  the  real  sentiments  of 
personal  esteem  and  friendship  which  they  entertained  for  each 
other.  In  fact,  the  line  which  had  separated  them  was  more  in 
appearance  than  in  reality,  if  w^e  regard  the  motives  whch  actua- 
ted them  all,  and  the  object  which  he  equally  with  them  had  in 
view.  That  object  w^as  identical — the  good  of  their  country  ; — 
although  they  had  greatly  differed  as  to  the  best  means  for  pursuing 
it.  But  although  their  usual  intercourse  had  been  thus  interrupted 
by  his  exile,  and  the  arbitrary  distinctions  of  a  civil  war,  their 
attachments  were  based  upon  principles  too  pure  and  immutable  to 
be  permanently  disturbed  ;  and  it  was  evident,  that  upon  a  fit 
occasion  these  kindred  spirits  would  reunite  the  relaxed  bonds  of 
personal  regard  and  friendship. 

In  the  summer  of  1782,  Mr.  Jay,  who,  for  two  and  a  half  years 
previous  had  been  residing  in  a  public  capacity  at  Madrid,  arrived 
at  Paris,  as  one  of  the  five  Commissioners  appointed  by  Congress 
to  negotiate  a  Peace  with  similar  Commissioners  on  the  part  of 
Great  Britain.  Mr.  Van  Schaack,  as  has  been  seen,  was  still  re- 
siding in  London  at  this  date,  and  he  embraced  the  occasion  to 
renew  a  correspondence  with  his  old  friend. 


PETER     VAN      S  C  II  A  A  C  K  .  30 1 


TO   JOHN  JAY. 

London f  lllk  Jlugust,  1782, 

(Rathhone-place,)  JN'o.  20  Charlotte-street. 
Dear  Sir  : 

Though  I  have  taken  up  my  pen  to  ^vrite  to  you,  I  own  I  hardly 
know  what  to  say  :  embarrassed  as  I  am  by  a  consideration  of  the 
strange  predicament  we  stand  in  to  each  other,  compared  with  our 
connection  in  earlier  life.  I  write  therefore  without  any  precise 
object,  trusting  to  what  chance  (if  any  thing  it  should)  may  pro- 
duce from  it.  One  thing,  however,  I  must  premise,  which  is,  that  I 
have  no  design  of  making  this  introductory  to  any  improper  request. 
Pride,  or  whatever  it  may  be  called,  will  restrain  me  from  any 
application  that  might  expose  me  to  the  mortification  of  a  refusal ; 
and  I  am  not  so  weak  as  to  attempt  to  prevail,  in  any  matter  in- 
consistent with  your  duty  and  in  your  sense  of  it.  The  impressions 
of  my  youth  are  not  easily  effaced  ;  and  the  new  scenes  I  have 
passed  through  have  not  altered  my  old  notions  of  right  and  wrong. 
Ccelmn  non  animum.  Whether  what  has  passed  has  altered  your 
opinion  of  me  as  a  man,  I  own,  is  a  question  I  could  wish  to  have 
resolved.  The  artificial  relations  introduced  by  a  state  of  society, 
may  vary,  or  be  dissolved  by  events  and  external  circumstances ; 
but  there  are  others  which  nothins;  but  deviation  from  moral 
rectitude  can,  I  think,  annihilate. 

I  congratulate  you  on  the  increase  of  your  family,  and  sincerely 
wish  you  and  Mrs.  Jay  every  domestic  happiness. 
I  am,  dear  sir, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

TO  PETER  VAN  SCHAACK. 

Paris,  nth  Sept.,  1782. 
Dear  Sir  : 

Dr.  Franklin  sent  me  this  morning  your  letter  of  11th  August 
last.  I  thank  you  for  it.  Aptitude  to  change  in  any  thing  never 
made  a  part  of  my  disposition,  and,  I  hope,  makes  no  part  of  my 
character.  In  the  course  of  the  present  troubles  I  have  adhered  to 
certain  fixed  principles,  and  faithfully  obeyed  their  dictates,  with- 


302  THE     LIFE     OF 

out  reo*ar(llng  the  consequences  of  such  conduct  to  my  friends,  my 
family,  or  myself ;  all  of  whom,  however  dreadful  the  thought,  I 
have  ever  been  ready  to  sacrifice,  if  necessary,  to  the  public  ob- 
jects in  contest. 

Believe  me,  my  heart  has  nevertheless  been,  on  more  than  one 
occasion,  afflicted  by  the  execution  of  what  I  thought,  and  still 
think,  was  my  duty.  I  felt  very  sensibly  for  you  and  for  others  ; 
but  as  society  can  regard  only  the  political  propriety  of  men's  con- 
duct, and  not  the  moral  propriety  of  their  motives  to  it,  I  could 
only  lament  your  unavoidably  becoming  classed  w^ith  many  whose 
morality  was  convenience,  and  whose  politics  changed  with  the 
aspect  of  public  affairs. 

My  regard  for  you,  as  a  good  old  friend,  continued  notwith- 
standing. God  knows,  that  inclination  never  had  a  share  in  any 
proceedings  of  mine  against  you  ;  from  such  "  thorns  no  man  could 
expect  to  gather  grapes  ;"  and  the  only  consolation  that  can  grow 
in  their  unkindly  shade,  is  a  consciousness  of  doing  one's  duty, 
and  the  reflection  that  as,  on  the  one  hand,  I  have  uniformly  pre- 
ferred the  public  w^eal  to  my  friends  and  connections  ;  so  on  the 
other,  I  have  never  been  urged  by  private  resentment  to  injure  a 
single  individual. 

Your  judgment,  and  consequently  your  conscience,  differed 
from  mine  on  a  very  important  question ;  but  though  as  an  inde- 
pendent American,  I  considered  all  who  were  not  for  us,  and  you 
among  the  rest,  as  against  us ;  yet  be  assured  that  John  Jay  did 
not  cease  to  be  a  friend  to  Peter  Van  Schaack. 

No  one  can  serve  two  masters :  either  Britain  w'as  risiht  and 
America  wrong;  or  America  was  right  and  Britain  wrong.  They 
who  thought  Britain  right  were  bound  to  support  her  ;  and  Amer- 
ica had  a  just  claim  to  the  services  of  those  who  approved  her 
cause.  Hence  it  became  our  duty  to  take  one  side  or  the  other  ; 
and  no  man  is  to  be  blamed  for  preferring  the  one  which  his  reason 
recommended  as  the  most  just  and  virtuous. 

Several  of  our  countrymen,  indeed,  left  and  took  arras  against 
us,  not  from  any  such  principles,  but  from  the  most  dishonorable 
of  human  motives.  Their  conduct  has  been  of  a  piece  with  their 
inducements,  for  they  have  far  outstripped  savages  in  perfidy  and 
cruelty.     Against  these  men,  every  American  must  set  his  face  and 


riCTKR      VAN      bClIAACK.  203 

steel  his  liearl.  Tlu>re  arc  others  of  them,  though  not  many,  who, 
I  believe,  opposed  us  because  they  thought  they  could  not  con- 
scientiously go  with  us.  To  such  ol'  these  as  have  behaved  w  iili 
humanity,  I  wish  every  species  of  prosperity  that  may  consist  with 
the  good  of  my  country. 

You  see  how  naturally  I  slide  into  the  habit  of  writing  as  freely 
as  /  used  to  speak  to  you.  Ah !  my  friend,  if  ever  I  see  New- 
York  again,  I  expect  to  meet  wuth  "  the  shade  of  many  a  departed 
joy."     My  heart  bleeds  to  think  of  it. 

How  is  your  health  ?  Where  and  how  are  your  chilth'en  ? 
Whenever,  as  a  private  friend,  it  may  be  in  my  power  to  do  good 
to  either,  tell  me.  While  I  have  a  loaf,  you  and  they  may  freely 
partake  of  it.  Don't  let  this  idea  hurt  you.  If  your  circumstances 
are  easy,  I  rejoice  ;  if  not,  let  me  take  off  their  rougher  edges. 

Mrs.  Jay  is  obliged  by  your  remembrance,  and  presents  you 
her  compliments.  The  health  of  us  both  is  but  delicate.  Our 
little  girl  has  been  very  ill,  but  is  now  well.  My  best  wishes  al- 
ways attend  you,  and  be  assured  that,  notwithstanding  any  politi- 
cal changes, 

I  remain,  dear  Peter, 

Your  affectionate  friend  and  servant, 

John  Jay. 

TO  JOHN  JAY. 

London,  \Wi  Oct.,  ITS 2. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  w^ill  not  attempt  to  describe  my  feelings  upon  the  perusal  of 
your  very  friendly  letter.  I  consider  it  as  a  perfect  picture,  in 
which  I  can  trace  every  well  known  feature  of  your  character. 
Your  unreserved  commemoration  of  our  old  friendship,  and  assu- 
rance of  its  continuance ;  your  kind  inquiries  into  the  situation  of 
me  and  my  children,  and  generous  offers  with  respect  to  both  them 
and  myself;  and  your  pathetic  allusion  to  the  melancholy  scenes 
you  will  meet  upon  your  return  to  New- York,  melted  my  heart ; 
and  every  idea  ot  party  distinction  or  political  competition  vanish- 
ed in  an  instant ! 

The  line  you  have  drawn  between  your  political  character  and 
your  private  friendships  is  so  strongly  marked,  and  will  be  so  strict- 


304  THELIFEOF 

ly  attended  to  by  me,  that  I  hope  our  correspondence  will  not  end 
here.  Be  assured,  that  were  I  arraigned  at  the  bar,  and  you  my 
judge,  I  should  expect  to  stand  or  I'all  only  by  the  merits  of  my 
cause. 

With  respect  to  the  great  contest,  in  which,  unfortunately,  I 
differed  from  others  of  my  valuable  friends  as  well  as  yourself,  I  can 
say,  with  the  most  sacred  regard  to  truth,  I  was  actuated  by  no 
motive  unfriendly  to  my  country,  nor  by  any  consideration  of  a 
personal,  or  private  nature.  Men's  hearts  are  not  always  known, 
even  to  themselves ;  but,  believe  me,  that  I  spared  no  pains  in  ex- 
amining into  all  the  secret  recesses  of  mine.  I  can  say,  too,  that 
my  wishes  were  to  have  gone  with  you.  The  very  appearance 
(and  in  my  view  of  things  it  was  appearance  only)  of  taking  part 
against  my  country,  distressed  me  in  the  extreme.  Could  it  be  for 
the  sake  of  Great  Britain  that  I  could  wish  to  sacrifice  the  welfare 
of  my  native  country?  My  attachment  to  her  (great  indeed  as  it 
was)  was  founded  in  the  relation  she  stood  in  to  America,  and  the 
happiness  which  I  conceived  America  derived  from  it :  nor  did  it 
appear  to  me,  from  any  thing  that  had  happened,  that  the  connec- 
tion was  dissolved.  Upon  the  whole,  as  even  in  a  doubtful  case,  I 
would  rather  be  the  patient  sufferer,  than  run  the  risk  of  being  the 
active  aggressor ;  and  as  I  should  rather  be  even  a  figure  for  the 
hand  of  scorn  to  point  its  slow  unmoving  finger  at,  than  to  destroy 
the  peace  of  my  own  mind  ;  I  concluded,  rather  than  to  support  a 
cause  I  could  not  approve,  to  bear  every  distress  that  might  result 
from  the  part  I  took ;  and  if  America  is  happier  for  the  revolu- 
tion, I  declare  solemnly  that  I  shall  rejoice  that  the  side  I  was  on 
was  the  unsuccessful  one.  You,  my  dear  sir,  will  excuse  my 
saying  thus  much  on  a  subject  so  interesting  to  all  that  is  dear 
to  me  in  life.  My  heart  w^arms  whenever  our  country  (I  must 
call  it  my  country)  is  the  subject,  and  in  my  separation  from  it,  "  I 
have  dragged  at  each  remove  a  lengthening  chain." 

I  am  sorry  that  the  health  of  you  and  Mrs.  Jay  should  be  but 
indifferent ;  and  you  have  my  most  cordial  wish  that  you  may  both 
again  enjoy  this  invaluable  blessing.  Perhaps  it  would  sound  equiv^ 
ocally  were  I  to  express  a  wish  that  you  would  not  attend  so  much 
to  public  business,  but  remember  what  Horace  says  of  a  wise  and 
good  man :  "  Ultra  quam  satis  est,  virtutem  si  petal  ipsam."    Your 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  305 

horse  I  hope  is  your  only  pliysician  ;  and  as  to  an  apothecary,  I 
hope  you  will  not  require  even  an  ass.  My  health,  which  you 
kindly  inquire  after,  was  never  better,  saving  the  complaint  in  my 
sight,  which,  however,  gives  me  no  po//2.  The  one  eye  is  quite 
useless,  and  two  years  ago  I  got  an  attack  upon  the  other  ;  at  that 
period,  indeed,  my  friend,  I  wanted  consolation ;  but  I  bless  God 
I  found  resources  in  my  mind,  which  very  soon  prepai>ed  me  with 
resignation  for  the  worst. 

As  to  my  circumstances,  my  dear  sir,  they  are  quite  easy ;  ren- 
dered so  by  the  provision  my  good  father-in-law  made  for  my 
children :  were  they  otherwise,  I  know  no  man  who  could  sooner 
induce  me  to  invade  my  maxim  against  incurring  pecuniary  obli- 
gations than  yourself,  for  between  the  professions  and  actions  of 
my  friend  John  Jay,  I  never  yet  have  known  one  instance  of  a 
variance.  My  spirits,  too,  are  good  ;  and  I  have  a  good  circle  of 
acquaintances,  not  only  in  town,  but  in  the  pleasant  villages  in  its 
neighborhood,  where  I  frequently  walk  ten  or  twelve  miles  before 
dinner.  Upon  the  whole,  I  believe  few  persons  enjoy  more  social 
and  convivial  hours  than  I  do ;  and  though  I  do  not  so  often  par- 
take of  the  "  feast  of  reason  and  the  flow  of  soul,"  as  I  did  at  New- 
York,  yet  I  ought  rather  to  be  thankful  for  my  situation  than  to 
repine  at  my  share  of  the  public  calamity,  which  has  involved  so 
many  families  in  ruin. 

My  children  (I  acknowledge  it  gratefully)  have  been  permitted 
to  remain  at  Kinderhook  ;  which,  by  the  by,  is  become  the  Athens 
of  the  county  of  Albany.  Harry  is  represented  to  me  as  a  lively 
boy,  and  has  been  examined  and  approved  at  Yale  College.  I 
hope  the  poor  fellow  will  not  be  reproached  with  the  malignity  of 
his  father ;  on  my  part,  I  assure  you  I  have  often  cautioned  my 
friends  to  take  care  not  to  let  him  imbibe  any  political  prejudices, 
on  account  of  any  ill  usage  he  might  possibly  suppose  I  had  receiv- 
ed. I  would  not  let  him  come  to  England,  because  I  mean  he 
should  never  leave  America.  If  he  has  an  American  education, 
with  a  good  share  of  the  weighty  bullion  of  American  sense,  I  shall 
not  regret  his  being  unacquainted  with  the  refinements  of  the  old 
world. 

Can  you  forgive  me  for  dweUing  so  long  on  my  private  con- 
cerns ?     Your  kind  inquiries  convince  me  you  can.     What  a  great 

39 


306  THE      LIFE      OF 

theatre  are  you  acting  upon,  and  what  a  conspicuous  part  do  you 
sustain !  What  a  fund  of  information  must  you  have  collected ; 
and,  conscious  of  the  rectitude  of  your  measures,  what  must  be 
your  feelings  upon  the  consummation  !  I  have  always  considered 
you  as  one  of  the  most  formidable  enemies  of  this  country,  but 
since  what  has  happened,  has  happened,  there  is  no  man  to  whom 
I  more  cordially  wish  the  glory  of  the  achievement. 

JNIy  respectful  compliments  to  Mrs.  Jay,  and  believe  me,  dear  sir, 
Your  affectionate  friend  and  sincere  well  wisher, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

TO  JOHN  JAY. 

London,  30th  May,  1783, 
jYo.  23  Church-street,  Soho. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  did  myself  the  pleasure  of  writing  to  you  very  soon  after  the 
receipt  of  your  obliging  favor  of  the  17th  Sept,  and  although  I  can 
well  account  for  your  silence  even  if  you  have  received  my  letter, 
yet  as  it  is  possible  it  may  have  miscarried,  in  which  case  my  con- 
duct must  have  appeared  to  you  in  a  light  I  would  not  by  any 
means  wish,  I  will  claim  your  indulgence  once  more.  I  own  I 
should  be  much  flattered  w'ith  a  few  lines  from  you.  Fame  says 
you  are  to  be  the  ambassador  at  this  court,  and  this  has  induced 
me  to  suspend  a  jaunt  I  have  determined  to  take  to  Paris,  by  the 
way  of  Holland.  I  w^ould  not  on  any  account  miss  seeing  you, 
though  I  am  aware  that  your  public  station  will  exclude  me  from 
the  habits  of  any  sort  of  familiar  intercourse.  Don't  let  it  lessen 
me  in  your  opinion,  by  creating  any  suspicion  of  my  sincerity,  when 
I  assure  you,  as  I  most  solemnly  do,  that  I  rejoice  from  the  bottom 
of  my  heart,  upon  the  establishment  of  peace,  which  I  did,  even 
before  I  knew  the  terras,  and  would  have  done,  had  they  been  such 
as  forever  to  exclude  me  from  a  return  to  my  native  country, 
ardently  as  I  pant  after  it. 

I  have  a  letter  from  my  brother  of  the  16th  April.  Our  old 
friend  Benson  was  then  at  New-York,  upon  a  requisition  to  Sir 
Guy  Carleton,  to  contract  his  lines  to  the  island  of  New-York.  I 
fear  this  business  will  create  some  contention.  God  forbid  !  Every 
American,  of  whatever  description,  must  wish  to  prevent  any  ill 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK'.  307 

blood,  and  as  much  as  possible  to  cultivate  a  "spirit  of  concilia- 
tion." If  I  know  my  own  heart,  this  would  have  been  my  senti- 
ment had  the  event  of  the  war  been  the  reverse  of  what  it  is. 
Benson  has  sent  me  assurances  of  the  continuance  of  his  old 
friendship,  and  advises  me  to  remain  where  1  am  some  time 
longer.  This  I  own  does  not  accord  with  my  sentiments,  and  if  it 
were  not  for  other  considerations, — that  of  my  eyes  particularly, 
which  is  become  a  very  serious  one,  and  I  fear  will  be  still  more 
so, — I  would  have  gone  over  immediately  to  have  stood  the  first 
shock.  I  have  endeavored  to  form  a  just  estimate  of  life,  and  of 
all  it  contains,  and  if  my  endeavors  have  not  been  unsuccessful,  be 
assured  I  am  not  only  more  of  a  philosopher,  but  a  better  man 
than  ever  you  knew  me.     Pardon  my  presumption. 

I  beg  my  respectful  compliments  to  Mrs.  Jay,  and,  with  my 
best  wishes  for  you,  her  and  your  little  one. 

Believe  me  affectionately  yours, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

TO  PETER  VAN  SCHAACK. 

Passy,  16th  June,  17S3. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  have  received  your  favor  of  the  30th  ult.  Your  affectionate 
answer  to  my  letter  of  the  17th  Sept.  last,  reached  me  about  a 
month  after  its  date.  The  prospect  I  then  and  long  afterwards 
had  of  being  able  to  visit  England,  (where  the  death  of  a  relation 
gave  me  some  private  business  to  transact,)  induced  me  from  time 
to  time  to  postpone  writing  to  you.  It  so  happened,  however,  that 
my  continuing  at  Paris  remained  expedient,  and  whether  and  when 
I  shall  see  London,  is  still  doubtful. 

The  report  you  have  heard  respecting  my  future  destination,  is 
not  justified  by  any  intelligence  I  have  of  the  designs  of  Congress 
on  that  subject,  and  thereibre  the  jaunt  you  have  in  contemplation 
should  not  be  suspended  on  that  account.  I  assure  you  frankly 
and  sincerely,  that  it  will  always  give  me  pleasure  to  see  you. 
Our  meetincr  shall  be  that  of  old  friends,  and  as  our  intercourse  in 
that  capacity  may  and  will  be  innocent,  I  shall  neither  impose  upon 
myself,  nor  upon  you,  any  restraints  which  rectitude  and  integrity 
will  dispense  with.    To  iVmerica  I  shall  continue  a  faithful  servant, 


308  THE      LIFE      OF 

and  to  you  a  faithful  friend.  Should  these  characters  clash,!  shall, 
as  heretofore,  prefer  the  former  ;  but  where  and  while  they  do  not, 
let  us,  as  in  the  days  of  our  youth,  indulge  the  effusions  of  friend- 
ship, without  reserve  and  without  disguise. 

Benson  is  an  honest  man  and  loves  you.  It  grieved  him  to  act 
a  part  that  wounded  you.  I  approve  the  advice  he  gave  you — it 
exactly  corresponds  with  my  own  sentiments. 

The  disorder  in  your  eyes  afflicts  me.  It  merits,  and  I  hope 
will  enQ:ao:e  your  o-reatest  care  and  attention.  At  all  events  be 
resigned,  and  remember  that  "many  will  rejoice  in  the  end,  for  the 
days  wherein  they  have  seen  adversity." 

Mrs.  Jay  joins  me  in  presenting  to  you  our  best  wishes. 
I  am,  dear  Peter,  your  affectionate  friend, 

John  Jay. 

TO  JOHN  JAY. 

London,  bth  August,  1783. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  received  your  favor  of  the  16th  June  in  due  time,  and  instantly 

determined  to  set  out  for  Paris,  making  that  my  first  object,  but  a 

friend  prevailed  on  me  from  time  to  time  to  postpone  it,  which  for 

the  sake  of  his  company  I  did,  as  he  is  not  only  a  most  pleasing 

companion,  but  intimately  acqainted  with  the  habits  as  well  as  the 

language  of  France.     The  day  was  fixed  and  our  route  agreed 

upon,  by  the  w^ay  of  Dieppe,  Rouen,  &c.,  when  a  number  of  my 

relations  and  friends  from  New-York  arrived,  and  I  found  myself 

so  circumstanced,  that  I  could  not  leave  En<Tland  without  o;reat 

inconvenience,  nor  remain  in  it  without  chagrin  and  disappointment. 

I  will  not  trouble  you  with  the  dilemma  I  w^as  in,  but  if  chance 

should  make  you  acquainted  with  my  friend  Doctor  (John  M'Na- 

mara)  Hayes,  which  I  own  I  wish,  as  well  on  account  of  his  worth 

as  a  man,  as  of  his  eminence  in  his  profession,  he  will  explain  it 

to  you. 

Since  I  received  your  favor  of  the  16th  June,  I  have  heard 
many  particulars  about  you  and  Mrs.  Jay,  from  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fitch 
and  Mrs.  Grant,  and  am  happy  to  be  informed  that  the  air  of  Passy 
has  been  of  benefit  to  your  health.  Mrs.  Jay  has  I  hope  by  this 
time  increased  your  domestic  happiness.   I  wish  you  and  she  could 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  309 

be  prevailed  on  to  turn  your  thou<j;hts  to  lliis  country,  wliicli  I  am 
persuaded,  would  be  ol"  the  utmost  service  to  you  both.  1  have 
seen  wonders  wrought  here  in  a  variety  of  cases  of  delicate  consti- 
tutions, and  am  myself  an  instance  of  the  goodness  of  the  air  and 
climate  of  England.  Let  me  entreat  you  to  think  of  it.  I  still  en- 
tertain hopes,  that  my  information  respecting  your  future  destina- 
tion, though  premature,  will  be  verified  by  the  event,  but  to  an- 
swer the  great  purpose  of  health,  a  jaunt  in  a  private  way  would 
be  most  eligible.  Let  me  have  the  pleasure  of  meeting  you  at  Do- 
ver, or  in  some  other  part  of  England,  before  the  autumnal  rains 
set  in. 

The  footing  you  have  placed  our  meeting  upon,  is  perfectly 
agreeable  to  me,  and  I  would  not  wish  to  make  any  alteration  in 
the  terms  you  mention;  and  the  rather  because  I  trust  there  will, 
in  future,  be  no  incompatibility  between  your  public  character  and 
private  feelings,  as  they  respect  me.  I  freely  declare  to  you  what 
I  profess  in  all  companies,  that  I  consider  myself  a  citizen  of  the 
United  States,  dejiire  at  least,  whether  I  become  so  de  facto  or  not. 
In  this  I  feel  no  sense  of  humiliation,  and  I  conceive  I  am  w^ar- 
ranted  in  the  declaration  by  established  principles,  and  a  perfect 
consistency  of  character.  I  w^ould  not  obtain  my  most  favorite  ob- 
ject by  a  dishonorable  concession,  but  I  will  not  be  restrained  by 
false  shame,  or  mean  pride,  from  avowing  my  principles  and  opin- 
ions. The  happiness  of  America  was  not  nearer  my  heart  in  its 
old  state  than  it  is  in  the  new.  I  cannot  help  the  defects  of  my 
understanding,  but  I  can  subdue  the  errors  of  my  heart,  in  which 
revenge  never  had  a  place.  A  great  work  has  been  achieved,  but 
much  yet  remains  to  be  done,  in  order  to  make  it  a  public  blessing, 
at  least  in  our  day.  I  am  almost  tempted  to  enter  into  particulars, 
but  I  fear  it  might  appear  improper,  and  yet  could  I  have  seen 
you,  I  could  have  ventured  to  suggest  my  ideas,  such  as  they  are, 
and  this  with  the  less  embarrassment,  because  I  have  no  sinister 
object  or  selfish  inducement  to  bias  me.  Not  even  you,  ray  friend, 
can  view  the  public  happiness  of  our  country,  more  abstracted 
from  partial  considerations  than  1  do. 

Should  you  be  prevented  from  coming  to  England,  and  I  can 
be  of  any  service  to  you  in  your  private  concerns,  freely  command 
me.     T  thank  you  for  your  short  letter  of  the  26th  July,  and  for 


310  THE      LIFE     OF 

the  trouble  you  took  in  sending  me  a  copy  of  the  preceding  one, 
to  Avhich  I  had  rephed  before  I  received  your  last,  though  my  let- 
ter was  not  sent.  Be  pleased  to  present  my  respectful  compli- 
ments and  best  regards  to  Mrs.  Jay,  and  believe  me,  dear  sir, 

Your  sincere  friend, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

TO  PETER  VAN  SCHAACK. 

Passy,  1  \th  August,  1783. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  had  the  pleasure  last  evening  of  receiving  your  letter  of  the 
5th  instant.  Why  did  you  leave  it  to  chance  to  bring  me  ac- 
quainted with  your  friend  ?  Certain  pros  and  cons  on  points  of 
delicacy,  I  suppose.  If  he  comes  to  Paris,  we  shall  probably  see 
each  other.  Whatever  may  have  been  the  dilemma  which  post- 
poned your  jaunt,  I  regret  it.  It  is  probable,  nevertheless,  that  w^e 
shall  meet  before  w^inter ;  for  as  soon  as  business  shall  cease  to 
confine  me  here,  I  mean  to  go  to  Bath  and  try  the  effect  of  the 
w'aters.  When  you  again  see  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fitch  and  Mrs.  Grant, 
be  pleased  to  present  Mrs.  Jay's  and  my  compliments  to  them.  I 
have  asked  leave  to  become  a  private  citizen,  and  to  return  to 
America  next  summer.  Various  considerations  render  this  proper 
— my  conduct  would  not  otherwise  be  consistent. 

The  discussions  of  questions  de  jure  require  dispassionate  and 
calm  reflection,  and  that  season  must  arrive  before  speculative 
principles  can  acquire  sufficient  force  to  produce  fruit  de  facto. 
Such  is  the  order  of  nature,  and  we  must  take  it  as  it  is.  There 
is  a  tide  in  all  human  affairs,  and  while  it  runs  too  hard  against  us 
to  be  stemmed,  it  would  be  imprudent  to  weigh  anchor.  I  suspect, 
however,  that  many  will  find  this  tide  to  be  as  long  in  passing,  as 
the  traveller  in  the  fable  found  the  river  ;  but  in  my  opinion  that 
ought  not  to  be  the  case  of  any  except  the  faithless  and  the  cruel. 
I  am  for  receiving  all  who  do  not  come  under  either  of  those 
descriptions,  and  for  the  absolute  exclusion  of  all  who  do.  Thus 
you  have  very  candidly  and  explicitly  my  opinion  on  a  very  im- 
portant and  interesting  subject. 

I  think  with  you  that  America  has  much  yet  to  do,  before  her 
domestic  and  foreign  afTairs  will  assume  a  settled,  uniform  aspect ; 


TETEK     VAN      SCHAACK.  311 

but  that  cannot  be  inirnccliatcly  accomplished — even  natural  causes 
oppose  it.  The  waters  will  continue  ai2;itate(l  for  some  time  after 
the  storm  which  raised  them  has  subsided.  All,  however,  will  go 
well  ;  time  will  give  temper,  and  experience  wisdom.  Our  soil  is 
new  and  fertile  ;  and  we  must  neither  be  surprised  to  see  some  tares 
among  our  wheat,  nor  some  errors  in  our  counsels.  While  the 
people  continue  virtuous  and  well  informed,  de  republica  nil  despe- 
r  and  117)1. 

We  will  talk  these  matters  over  one  of  these  days  more  at 
large.  Mrs.  Jay  presents  you  her  compliments.  I  thank  you  for 
your  obliging  oifer  of  service,  and  with  the  best  wishes  for  your 
happiness,  1  remain,  dear  sir. 

Your  friend  and  servant, 

John  Jay. 

TO  JOHN  JAY. 

London,  12th  September,  1783. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  sincerely  congratulate  you  and  Mrs.  Jay  on  the  increase  of 
your  family,  and  hope  that  by  this  time  she  is  perfectly  recovered. 
Your  letters  I  forwarded  by  the  packet,  and  shall  avail  myself  of  a 
private  opportunity  of  mentioning  the  circumstance  to  some  of  my 
friends,  if  any  should  oifer  soon.  Had  I  received  your  letters  two 
days  sooner,  they  had  probably  by  this  time  been  near  New-York. 

I  thank  you  for  what  you  say  of  my  friend  Doctor  Hayes,  and 
you  justly  ascribe  my  not  giving  him  a  letter  of  introduction  to 
motives  of  delicacy.  I  still  feel  some  restraints  and  embarrass- 
ments with  respect  to  you,  which  a  personal  interview  would 
enable  me  to  get  over,  and  this  was  a  principal  motive  to  my 
intended  journey  to  Paris.  Believe  me,  I  only  want  to  be  thor- 
oughly understood,  and  then  I  am  willing  to  submit  my  conduct 
and  principles  to  any  tribunal. 

1  am  extremely  happy  in  the  thought  of  seeing  you  in  England. 
I  am  confident  Bath  will  be  of  service  to  you,  but  I  own  I  wish 
you  to  come  early  enough  to  enjoy  a  little  of  the  free  air  of  this 
fine  season.  Exercise  on  horseback  and  relaxation  of  mind  will 
do  every  thing  for  you.  I  was  assured  through  Mr.  Oswald  that 
you  would  be  here  this  month,  and  the  signing  of  the  definitive 


312  THE     LIFE     OF 

treaty  makes  me  hope  that  all  obstacles  are  now  removed  to  your 
leaving  Paris.  I  was  in  hopes  this  treaty  would  have  contained 
some  explanations,  calculated  to  meet  and  to  obviate  certain  doubts 
which  have  been  raised  in  America,  with  respect  to  the  true  con- 
struction of  the  5th  and  6th  of  the  provisional  articles ;  but  I  am 
told  there  is  nothing  contained  in  it  upon  this  subject.  I  am  willing 
to  think  that  the  omission  may  be  for  good  reasons,  and  that  such 
explanations  may  be  more  efhcacious  when  spontaneously  urged 
by  the  commissioners,  than  if  stipulated  by  treaty.  The  former  is 
most  ardently  wished  for  by  my  friends,  and  I  trust  that  it  cannot 
be  improper  that  I  hint  this,  though  I  hope  it  is  unnecessary.  The 
terms  you  mention  are  comprehensive,  and  to  your  exceptions 
humanity  and  honor  cannot  object. 

You  doubtless  hear  and  know  every  thing  that  is  going  on  in 
the  different  States,  in  ours  particularly.  My  last  accounts,  I  own, 
are  not  so  threatening  as  those  of  many  others.  I  find  that  Gov. 
C.  is  acting  with  his  usual  spirit,  and  Benson  with  his  usual  cool- 
ness and  steadiness,  with  regard  to  the  treaty  and  the  irregularity 
of  some  associations  of  some  of  the  towns.  Mr.  Apthorpe,  who 
was  indicted  last  winter,  went  up  from  New-York  to  take  his  trial 
at  Albany,  and  I  am  assured  that  he  was  acquitted  for  want  of 
prosecution,  his  case  being  deemed  within  the  oblivion  of  the 
6th  article.  If  this  is  true,  it  is  a  case  in  point  for  me  and  my 
brothers. 

Though  I  would  wish,  for  many  reasons,  that  you  should 
hold  a  public  station,  yet  I  own  your  request  to  return  to  a 
private  station,  in  the  prime  of  life,  in  the  vigor  of  abilities,  and 
with  the  field  of  ambition  open  to  you,  reflects  great  lustre  on  your 
character. 

Since  writing  the  above,  Mr.  H.  White  is  arrived  here,  by 
whom  I  have  letters  of  a  very  serious  complexion.  At  a  court  of 
Oyer  and  Terminer  held  at  Poughkeepsie,  a  man  banished  by  the 
act  of  1778,  was  indicted,  tried  and  convicted,  of  misprision  of 
treason.  It  seems  to  me  he  was  ill-advised  not  to  have  put  in  a 
special  plea,  which  would  have  brought  the  point  of  law  of  the 
construction  of  the  6th  article  before  the  court.  But  I  forbear 
troubling  you  with  these  matters,  which,  however,  concern  me  very 
nearly,  and  in  spite  of  ray  optimism,  alarm  me  a  good  deal. 


PETER      VAN     S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  313 

I  beg  my  respectful  compliments  to  Mrs.  Jay,  and  best  wishes 
for  your  and  her  happiness,  as  well  as  that  of  your  little  ones. 
I  am  your  friend  and  most  ob't  servant, 

P.    V.    SCHAACK. 

Mr.  Jay  carried  into  effect  the  intention  expressed  in  the  pre- 
ceding letter,  of  visiting  England.  He  arrived  in  London  on  the 
14th  of  October,  17S3,  and  immediately  addressed  a  note  to  Mr. 
Van  Schaack,  who  had  just  returned  from  an  excursion  into  the 
country.  We  find  the  following  note  in  his  diary — "  We  met  with 
all  the  cordiality  of  old  friends,  who  had  long  been  absent,  with- 
out the  least  retrospect  to  the  cause  of  that  absence." 


I 


40 


314  THE     LIFE     OF 


C  II  A  P  T  E  R    X  V. 

During  his  exile,  Mr.  Van  Schaack  made  his  brother  Henry  his 
principal  American  correspondent.  For  the  first  two  or  three  years 
after  his  arrival  in  England,  however,  and  until  a  free  communica- 
tion was  opened,  this  correspondence  was  probably  limited,  and 
but  few^  of  his  letters  during  that  period  have  been  recovered. 
From  those  which  were  preserved,  selections  have  been  made  for 
this  w^ork,  which  will  not  only  assist  in  illustrating  his  character, 
but  will  be  found  creditable  to  him  as  literary  productions,  and 
interesting  for  the  political  and  other  information  which  many  of 
them  contain. 

It  will  be  proper  here  to  correct  an  impression  which  the  reader 
may  have  imbibed  from  the  circumstance  that  so  many  of  Mr.  Van 
Schaack's  manuscripts  have  been  preserved,  that  he  had  contempla- 
ted a  biography.  Such  was  not  the  fact.  He  entertained  very 
humble  views  of  himself,  and  when  the  author  mentioned  the 
subject  of"  a  Life,"  some  years  before  his  decease,  it  was  received 
w^ith  such  evident  disfavor,  that  he  forbore  to  press  it.  Precision 
in  all  things  was  one  of  his  characteristics.  But  it  was  on  account 
of  his  chikhen,  in  whom  his  atfections  were  centered,  that  he  took 
pains,  during  the  Revolution,  to  leave  behind  him  evidence  that 
his  political  course  was  the  result  of  principle,  and  was  governed 
by  integrity.* 

TO  DAVID  VAN  SCHAACK. 

London,  16th  Jan''i/,  17S2. 
My  dear  Brother  : 

My  letters  hitherto  have  been  chiefly  to  our  brother  Harry,  and 

*  There  is  no  doubt  but  many  interesting  and  valuable  manuscvipts  have 
been  lost.  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  early  blindness,  his  exile,  the  youthful  age  of 
his  children  by  the  tirst  Mrs.  Van  Schaack  on  his  return  from  England,  and 


PETER      VAN      S  C  II  A  A  C  K  .  315 

I  am  glad  to  fini]  that  you  have  matlc  a  generous  allowance  on  the 
score  of  my  particular  situation,  for  my  not  "writing  to  you  sepa- 
rately. However,  lor  the  future  I  must  entreat  the  favor  of  a 
correspondence  with  you,  which  I  could  wish  to  confine  only  to 
private  and  family  subjects,  on  which  Harry  has  not  been  so  cir- 
cumstantial as  my  anxiety  about  them  requires.  I  was  in  great 
hopes  tliat  J.  or  C.  W'oukl  have  favored  me  with  a  letter  relative  to 
my  children.  By  the  one  you  wrote  to  me  from  Goshen,  I  am 
sure  you  know  perfectly  well  the  particulars  which  must  interest 
the  solicitude  of  a  parent,  upon  these  tender  subjects.  The  account 
you  gave  me  of  Harry,  as  you  had  it  from  C,  was  equally  interest- 
ing and  pleasing.  You  will  easily  imagine  that  I  am  exceedingly 
anxious  about  him,  and  the  progress  he  makes  in  learning.  Be- 
fore now  he  must  have  unfolded  the  particular  bias  of  his  genius, 
and  I  could  wish  to  know  what  it  is  he  is  most  fond  of,  and, 
as  the  consequence  of  it,  in  what  branch  he  makes  the  greatest 
proficiency. 

The  disposition  of  his  heart  is  a  matter  of  still  greater  import- 
ance, and  though  I  can  hardly  expect  to  hear  any  actions  of  his 
which  deserve  to  be  recorded  in  the  annals  of  America,  yet  I  should 
hope  there  are  many  particulars  which  might  be  mentioned  of  him, 
that  would  engage  the  attention  of  a  'parent.  At  this  great  dis- 
tance from  him,  1  cannot  be  particular,  but  I  could  wish  that  pains 
might  be  taken  to  find  out  what  will  probably  be  his  character, 
both  as  to  understanding  and  disposition.  This  discovered,  will 
point  out  the  course  of  reading  and  study,  which  ought  most  par- 
ticularly to  be  adopted  for  him.  If  he  has  any  peculiar  fondness 
for  any  one  branch  of  learning  in  preference  to  the  rest,  a  greater 
proportion  of  his  time  and  attention  should  be  employed  in  that. 
If  he  discovers  any  particular  virtues,  books  which  describe  them 
in  the  most  advantageous  manner  should  be  put  into  his  hands  ;  so 

the  early  death  of  all  but  one,  who  was  absent  ;  the  ignorance  of  his  children 
by  the  second  Mrs.  Van  Scliaack,  of  the  existence  of  many  of  these  papers, 
and  his  disinclination  to  enter  into  a  particular  discussion  of  matters,  which 
were  calculated  to  call  up  a  long  train  of  intervening  scenes  of  domestic  af- 
fliction and  personal  trial — sufficiently  explain  how  this  could  have  happen- 
ed ;  and  it  is  perhaps  surprising,  under  all  the  circumstances,  that  so  much 
should  have  escaped  dcstructien. 


316  THE     LIFE     OF 

if  he  has  any  particular  propensities  which  are  wrong,  he  should 
be  furnished  with  some  of  the  best  authors  upon  morality  and  ethics, 
to  assist  him  in  overcoming  his  failings.  I  own  I  should  be  best 
pleased  to  hear  that  his  reading  was  chiefly  upon  subjects  of  mo- 
rality, which  are  calculated  to  display  the  beauties  of  virtue,  and 
the  deformities  of  vice ;  and  as  he  advances  in  years,  I  would  rather 
have  him  w^ell  acquainted  with  Tully's  Offices,  and  other  books 
which  treat  of  man  as  a  moral  agent,  and  of  the  principles  of  reli- 
gious and  moral  obligation,  than  with  Euclid's  Elements,  or  the 
writers  upon  natural  philosophy. 

Permit  me  to  quote  a  passage  upon  this  point  from  an  elegant 
author.  "The  knowledge  of  external  nature,  and  of  the  sciences 
which  that  knowledge  requires  or  includes,  is  not  the  great  or  the 
frequent  business  of  the  human  mind.  Whether  we  provide  for 
action  or  conversation,  whether  we  wish  to  be  useful  or  pleasing, 
the  first  requisite  is  the  religious  and  moral  knowledge  of  right  and 
wrong ;  the  next,  is  our  acquaintance  with  the 'history  of  mankind, 
and  with  those  examples  which  may  be  said  to  embody  truth,  and 
prove  by  events  the  reasonableness  of  opinions.  Prudence  and 
justice  are  virtues  and  excellences  of  all  times,  and  all  places.  We 
are  perpetually  moralists,  but  we  are  geometricians  only  by  chance. 
Our  intercourse  with  iJitellectual  nature  is  necessary  ;  our  specula- 
tions upon  matter  are  voluntary  and  at  leisure.  Physical  knowledge 
is  of  such  rare  emergence,  that  one  man  may  know  another  half  his 
life  without  being  able  to  estimate  his  skill  in  hydrostatics  or  astron- 
omy, but  his  moral  or  prudential  character  immediately  appears. 
Those  authors,  therefore,  are  to  be  read  at  schools,  that  supply 
most  axioms  of  prudence,  most  principles  of  moial  truth,  and  most 
materials  for  conversation,  and  these  purposes  are  best  served  by 
foets,  orators,  and  historians.''^ 

I  should  hope,  that  by  this  time  his  tutor  has  tried  his  invention 
a  little,  at  composition  upon  subjects  suited  to  his  years.  Letter- 
WTiting  will,  I  am  confident,  prove  the  easiest  method  of  teaching 
him  to  collect  and  arrange  his  thoughts,  and  to  express  them  with 
propriety. 

January  30th.  I  had  written  the  above  when  your  agreeable 
favor  by  the  Robust  reached  me.  It  is  equally  remarkable  as  it  is 
pleasing,  that  you  have  therein  anticipated  my  wishes,  by  confin- 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  3 17 

ing  yourself  to  private  subjects.  You  have  most  kindly  as  well  as 
judiciously  placed  yourself  in  my  situation,  and  then  asked,  what 
subjects  can  be  most  interesting  to  my  brother  in  that  situation  ? 
This  is  what  friends  owe  to  one  another,  and  this  alone  can  make 
correspondences  reciprocally  useful  and  pleasing.  Were  I  to  con- 
sider only  what  affects  myself^  and  expect  your  attention  to  that 
only,  without  considering  what  you  might  wish  to  know  from  me, 
surely  this  would  be  partial  and  selfish.  I  hope  you  will  proceed 
in  the  way  you  have  begun,  and  be  very  minute  not  only  about 
the  children,  but  all  our  Kinderhook  friends.  They  all  have  a 
share  in  my  tender  remembrance  in  succession,  but  as  they  are  too 
numerous  to  mention  them  all,  I  will  not  discriminate  any,  but 
leave  it  to  yourself  to  take  your  own  method.  This  long  separa- 
tion is  a  severe  trial  upon  me,  but  frequent  communications  re- 
specting those  I  love  so  tenderly,  would  greatly  alleviate  my  dis- 
tress. Indeed,  all  circumstances  considered,  I  ought  not  to  repine. 
I  have  all  the  necessaries  and  comforts  of  life,  nor  is  my  mind  har- 
assed by  the  artificial  wants  of  ambition  or  avarice.  I  have  as 
much  of  real  social  happiness,  I  verily  believe,  as  any  one  person. 
In  a  circle  of  friends  sufficiently  extensive,  I  am  received  with  a 
cordial  welcome,  and  were  I  inclined  to  enlarge  the  circle,  1  may 
say,  without  vanity,  that  I  should  not  find  it  difficult ;  nor  have  I 
been  without  the  heartfelt  pleasure,  of  sometimes  doing  service  to 
the  friends,  who  have  been  most  kind  to  me.  This,  indeed,  is  the 
favorable  side  of  my  situation — as  to  the  rest,  I  will  say  nothing, 
but  endeavor  to  bear  my  troubles  with  resignation.  To  acquire  a 
just  estimate  of  the  w^orld,  and  of  what  is  necessary  to  constitute 
the  happiness  of  a  rational  being,  is  the  great  object  of  my  serious 
reflections,  though  my  practice,  1  am  conscious,  falls  short  of  it. 
Excuse  my  saying  so  much  of  myself,  and  give  me  an  opportunity 
o^  finding  the  same  fault  icith  you,  and  you  will  make  me  happy. 

You  and  Harry  have  never  mentioned  my  friend  Dyckman, 
which  greatly  astonishes  me.  Your  friends  are  all  mine,  be  as- 
sured ;  and  shall  not  the  man  who  showed  me  the  kindest  atten- 
tion, while  I  was  threatened  with  one  of  the  most  melancholy  sit- 
uations in  life,  be  regarded  by  my  brothers?  My  acquaintance  is 
not  confined,  and  is  promiscuous ;  but  merit  only,  whether  in  rags 
or  brocade,  shall  have  my  esteem. 


318  TIIELIFEOF 

Pray  make  my  affectionate  regards  to  my  mother  "whenever 
you  write,  and  do  send  her  out  some  little  token  of  my  remem- 
brance, for  which  Mr.  Walton  will  advance  you  the  money.  Your 
own  discretion  will  guide  you  on  this  occasion,  as  to  the  thing  and 
the  value.     "  The  gift  is  small,  but  love  is  all,"  as  the  poesy  says. 


TO  HENRY  VAN  SCHAACK. 

London,  11th  July.  17S2. 
My  dear  Brother  : 

As  there  is  a  possibility  of  overtaking  the  packet,  I  cannot  sup- 
press my  w^ish  to  give  you  a  line  upon  this  momentous  occasion. 
The  letters  by  this  mail  will,  I  fancy,  be  very  heterogeneous.  On 
Wednesday,  2d,  I  wrote  you  how  decisively  Mr.  Fox  had  spoken 
upon  the  resolution  of  the  cabinet  to  acknowledge  unhraited  in- 
dependence— the  next  day  he  declared  his  determination  to  resign. 
The  sanguine  people  immediately  advanced  that  this  was  occa- 
sioned by  his  having  asserted  an  untruth,  and  that  he  had  been 
overruled  upon  the  point  of  independence,  which  Lord  Shelburne 
"was  determined  not  to  recognize.  The  absurdity  of  this  struck  me, 
but  such  coiifdent  assertions  as  I  heard  almost  staggered  my  rea- 
son, and  I  just  stated  (the  5th)  w^hat  were  the  various  conjectures 
with  respect  to  the  true  cause  of  the  division  in  the  cabinet,  which 
it  is  now  evident  was  ?^)owi 'places  and  not  measures. 

The  declaration  of  General  Conway  in  the  House  of  Commons, 
the  day  before  yesterday,  and  of  the  Duke  of  Richmond  and  the 
Premier  in  the  Upper  House,  yesterday,  perfectly  settles  the  matter, 
and  removes  all  sort  of  suspense.  The  United  States  are  now  in- 
dependent, and  from  the  bottom  of  my  heart  I  rejoice  at  it ;  but 
this  joy  you  will  easily  suppose  is  not  unmingled  with  distress. 
Indeed,  the  sufferings  of  the  unhappy  loyalists  very  much  affect 
me.  But  what  is  there  in  life  but  a  choice  of  evils,  and  was  not 
the  circle  of  misery  daily  extending  itself?  These  unfortunate  men 
have  been  in  pursuit  of  a  vain  shadow.  They  have  been  contend- 
ing for  a  government  which  had  no  existence,  and  have  sacrificed 
their  lives  and  fortunes  to  an  object  merely  ideal.  I  w^ish  liberality 
may  prevail  in  the  councils  of  our  countrymen,  and  I  doubt  not  but 
the  loyalists  would  know  how  to  make  the  proper  return  for  it. 


r  i:  T  i:  u    van    s  g  ii  a  a  c  k  .  319 

It  will  be  a  bitter  })ill  to  some  no  doubt,  but  what  country  has  been 
without  revolutions  and  civil  wars?  it  is  a  call  for  fortitude  and 
resignation,  and  necessity  will  reconcile  jjcoplc  to  it.  "I/ec/  like 
a  man,  but  I  will  endure  like  a  man,"  should  be  the  maxim  upon 
these  and  other  tiying  occasions  in  life. 

July  r2lh.  Interrupted  very  ac;reeably  I  was  yesterday,  by 
yours  of  the  l'2th  and  IGth  June.  The  papers  were  charged  six- 
teen shillings  postage,  and  therefore  not  taken.  I  have  however 
got  some,  anil  have  pored  over  those  from  without  till  I  am  almost 
blind.  Good  sense  and  manly  firmness  and  consistency  mark  the 
councils  of  America.  From  some  hints  of  the  measures  on  this 
side,  wdiich  appear  in  those  papers,  I  own  I  am  disappointed.  I 
expected  more  enlarged  notions  would  have  prevailed.  It  is  my 
practice  to  reason  upon  the  probability  of  events  upon  every 
chancre,  and  in  the  remarkable  ^ra  of  the  comino^  in  of  the  new 
administration,  (25th  March,)  I  endeavored  to  chalk  out  to  myself 
that  line  which  I  thought  they  w^ould  pursue  with  regard  to  Amer- 
ica, that  is,  what  in  my  poor  opinion  ought  to  be  pursued,  to  have 
the  blessed  effect  of  peace.  In  recurring  to  it,  (for  I  reduce  my 
speculations  to  writing,)  and  comparing  it  w  ith  what  has  leaked 
out,  I  own  I  am  disappointed.  Be  assured,  they  must  and  will 
come  to  iinqualijied  measures ;  they  cannot  retreat,  and  America 
will  have  every  thing  with  regard  to  sovereignty  and  indepen- 
dence. 

Do  not,  I  beseech  you,  my  dear  brother,  be  misled  by  such  sort 
of  letters  as  I  find  in  the  papers.  They  are  delusive,  and  conceived 
in  error  and  a  sanguine  (though  in  some  cases,  I  doubt  not,  an 
honest)  zeal.  The  die  is  cast,  be  assured.  Indeed,  in  my  mind  it 
has  been  long  since.  Reason  for  yourself.  I  am  surprised  at  S — 's 
scruples.  No  man  can  pay  more  veneration  than  I  do,  to  an  hon- 
est though  mistaken  conscience  ;  but  we  should  not  subtilize  our- 
selves out  of  our  senses.  Assure  yourself  that  my  principles  of 
right  and  wrong  remain  unaltered,  and  I  hope  more  firmly  fixed 
than  ever,  nor  has  the  general  stream  of  licentiousness  and  immo- 
rality  I  hope  carried  me  down  with  it.  No  selfish,  no  sinister  views 
infiiuence  my  reasonings,  and  therefore  I  owe  them  some  respect, 
considering  the  unwearied  pains  I  take  to  see  things  just  as  they  are. 
Excuse  my  saying  so  much  of  myself,  but  I  cannot  avoid  it,  as  I 
have,  I  behcve,  since  I  came  to  England  held  a  language  rather 


320  THE     LIFE     OF 

different  from  the  general  current.  I  can  safely  say  that  "  had  I 
served  my  God"  as  faithfully  as  in  this  instance  I  have  served  the 
cause  of  truth,  I  should  not  be  afraid  of  the  inevitable  hour. 

I  wish  I  could  send  you  the  papers,  but  they  are  too  expensive. 
Lord  Shelburne  says  that  he  has  had  the  most  flattering  assurances, 
that  his  former  sentiments  respecting  America  are  no  objection  to 
a  negotiation  with  him.  General  Conway  says  that  the  King  has 
been  brought  over  to  the  measure  of  independence,  and  the  Duke 
of  Richmond  declares  that  his  Majesty  remains  firm  in  his  senti- 
ments in  favor  of  it.  The  cabinet  are  unanimous,  is  the  declara- 
tion of  all  of  them.  Still  I  am  afraid  you  will  hear  a  different 
language,  but  for  Heaven's  sake  regard  it  not.  People  determined 
to  timik  in  a  certain  way,  and  bent  upon  certain  constructions,  if 
they  cannot  find  a  paragraph,  will  descend  to  a  sentence,  a  w^ord, 
a  syllable,  and  even  a  letter,  to  answer  their  purpose,  like  Peter  in 
the  Tale  of  a  Tub.  It  requires  a  microscopic  eye  to  see  a  tittle  in 
the  late  debates  unfavorable  to  independence,  but  if  there  was,  let 
us  not  quit  the  broad  turnpike  road  for  a  narrow  intricate  by-way. 
I  have  ray  reasons  for  being  thus  particular.  My  heart  is  with 
my  friends,  and  I  want  them  to  be  truly  informed.  Let  us  look 
danger  in  the  face,  and  not  shut  our  eyes  against  it,  or  think  we 
can  avoid,  by  not  seeing  it,  like  the  ostrich,  who  hides  her  head  to 
prevent  the  pursuers  from  knowing  where  she  is. 

The  relaxation  as  to  the  double  taxation,  is  so  far  satisfactory. 
You  make  a  useless  apology  for  your  minuteness  as  to  the  acts  of 
the  Legislature.  You  cannot  be  too  particular.  The  Philadelphia 
papers  have  gratified  me  much.  You  know  I  wanted  very  early 
to  know  their  speculations  upon  the  changes  here.  Believe  me, 
in  the  substantial  bullion  of  common  sense  and  practical  know- 
ledo"e,  our  countrymen  are  not  to  be  exceeded.  As  to  some  distur- 
bances upon  collateral  matters,  I  consider  them  only  as  ebullitions 
necessarily  arising  in  this  sort  of  public  fermentation.  We  should 
not  draw^  general  conclusions  from  particular  facts,  which  may  be 
otherwise  accounted  for. 

The  Crisis,  No.  XL,  is  I  think  a  masterly  production,  but  I  be- 
lieve his  jealousy  has  carried  him  rather  too  far.  I  cannot  think 
this  administration  has  attempted  to  make  America  break  with 
France,  but  on  this  subject  I  wrote  you,  I  believe,  upon  the  change. 


PETER      VAN      S  ('  H  A  A  C  K  .  321 

TO  HENRY   VAN    SCHAACK. 

London,  bth  January,  1783. 
Mv  1)[-:ar  Buothek  : 

My  not  hearing  from  you  by  the  packet,  &c.,  I  presume  has 
been  owing  to  your  expecting  me  at  New-York.  How  you  could 
entertain  such  an  idea  is  best  known  to  yourself,  after  what  I  wrote 
on  a  like  occasion  to  that  which  now  led  you  to  expect  me,  viz. 
Mr.  Walton's  request.  See  my  letters,  July  1781.  The  general 
tenor  of  all  my  letters,  must  also  have  made  it  highly  improbable 
that  I  could  in  such  a  hurry  leave  England,  both  as  to  business  and 
as  to  my  complaint,  which  you  seem  totally  on  all  occasions  to 
put  out  of  the  question. 

I  sincerely  hope  I  may  be  able  to  give  you  some  genuine  ac- 
count of  the  negotiations  at  Paris  before  I  close  this  letter,  but  I 
fear  it  w^ill  be  out  of  my  power.  Peace  and  war  are  alternately 
sounded  in  the  city,  with  equal  confidence,  to  answer  the  interested 
views  of  stock-jobbers,  and  equally  without  foundation  ;  for  every 
thing  is  concealed  with  impenetrable  and  remarkable  secrecy.  In 
my  mind,  it  stands  but  upon  the  ground  of  the  original  letter  of 
Mr.  Secretary  Townshend,  neither  strengthened  nor  weakened  by 
any  thing  which  has  since  appeared.  A  wide  field  of  conjectures 
has  been  opened  to  speculating  politicians.  I  own  I  have  an  im- 
pulse that  peace  will  be  the  result — perhaps  my  "  wish  is  father  to 
the  thought." 

I  wish  I  was  with  you  to  share  in  the  consultation  of  what  is 
to  be  done, — but  I  trust  that  you  will  so  well  digest  your  plan,  that 
you  will  either  succeed  with  honor,  or  if  you  fail,  have  nothing  to 
reproach  yourself  with  the  neglect  of.  In  these  tempestuous  times, 
reason  alone  can  hold  the  helm  with  steadiness.  It  is  too  serious 
an  occasion  to  be  tossed  about  by  passion,  or  to  be  influenced  by 
prejudice.  1  have  all  along,  and  in  all  companies,  freely  declared 
my  intention  of  returning  to  America,  whatever  might  be  the  issue 
of  the  contest,  and  though  I  believe  I  would  be  as  averse  as  any 
man  to  purchase  an  advantage  at  the  expense  of  my  honor,  yet  I 
cannot  agree  with  those  whose  high  and  towering  spirits  could  not 
brook  to  live  under  the  government  of  people  they  dislike,  &c.,  &c. 
(I  am  much  surprised  if  some  of  these  people  would  not  stoop 

41 


322  THE      LIFE      OF 

lower  than  you  or  I  would.)  Power  has  no  such  charms  to  me  as 
to  make  me  care  much  who  possesses  it.  Revolutions  have  hap- 
pened in  all  countries,  and  the  weaker  must  submit  to  the  stronger. 

For  my  part,  I  believe  America  will  be  as  well  governed  as 
any  part  of  the  Old  World  is.  Why  not  ?  Are  the  people  of 
America  more  debauched  and  corrupt,  or  less  sensible  and  well- 
informed,  than  the  Europeans  ?  Alas  !  /  am  not  to  be  persuaded 
to  this.  For  my  part,  if  I  can  return,  which  hitherto  I  do  assure 
you  I  have  not  taken  any  one  preparatory  step  to  bring  about,  I 
shall  be  as  good  a  subject  of  the  new  government  as  I  ever  was  of 
the  old.  This  declaration  I  shall  not  scruple  to  make,  without 
lessening  myself  in  my  own  opinion  at  all.  If  they  have  magna- 
nimity enough  to  accept  this  as  an  atonement,  I  shall  be  happy ; 
if  not,  my  heart  is  not  to  be  broken  by  this,  or,  I  believe,  any  other 
disappointment. 

I  have  s^one  to  the  expense  of  taking  a  number  of  papers, 
which  go  by  this  ship,  for  your  entertainment.  In  a  very  late  one, 
you  will  see  a  ridiculous  paragraph  relative  to  the  loyalists.  These 
people,  it  would  seem,  if  they  are  so  much  courted  by  all  parties, 
are  not  so  pitiable  as  they  have  been  represented.  If  the  French 
and  Gen.  Washington  are  so  favorable  to  them,  surely  their  case  is 
not  so  desperate,  and  the  rather  as  the  General  [that  too  is  said) 
is  soon  to  be  the  Lord  Protector  of  America,  by  name  and  office,  as 
he  already  is  said  to  be  in  fact !  Was  there  ever  such  infatua- 
tion ?  Must  a  man,  to  be  an  orthodox  party  man,  renounce  his 
reason,  and  swallow  the  grossest  absurdities  ? 

If  ever  I  have  the  happiness  of  again  embracing  you,  my  dear 
brother,  I  shall  have  much  to  communicate,  and  you  will  be  con- 
vinced that  I  have  not  been  guided  by  other  people's  opinions,  but 
by  my  own.  This  idea,  as  well  as  some  others,  1  have  often  re- 
peated, and  /  have  a  view  in  it.  I  wish  every  favorable  part  of 
my  character  might  be  known  in  due  time  to  my  dearest  boy.  I 
wish  him  to  possess  an  enlarged,  a  liberal  mind  j  which  will  think 
for  itself,  unshackled  by  prejudice  or  bigotry.  Sentiments  incul- 
cated upon  him,  would  perhaps  have  additional  weight  by  the  ex- 
ample of  his  father.  At  a  distance,  he  will  perhaps  consider  me 
with  more  reverence  than  if  I  was  near  him.  How  imperceptibly 
do  I  always  slide  into  this  subject,  in  which  my  heart  is  wrapped  up. 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  323 

I  must  beg  of  you  to  apologize  to  all  my  correspondents,  for  I 
write  to  none  but  you.  You  are  entitled  to  a  prelercnce,  and  I  must 
confine  myself  in  the  number  and  extent  of  my  correspondences. 
Heaven  preserve  you  all,  is  the  fervent  prayer  of, 

Your  brother  and  friend, 

P.  V.  S. 

TO  HIS  BROTHERS. 

London,  2d  Feb.,  1783. 
My  dear  Brothers  : 

I  have  written  you  lately  by  the  Vigilant,  by  Capt.  Gordon, 
aid-de-camp  to  Gen.  Campbell,  and  by  the  packet  which  sailed  the 
16th  January,  and  carried  over  three  mails.  My  last  of  the  20th, 
by  the  Vigilant,  I  am  most  desirous  of  your  receiving.  The  sub- 
jects which  we  have  hitherto  written  upon,  could  not  be  much 
affected  by  the  events  of  the  day.  I  therefore  humbly  aimed  at 
giving  you  principles  instead  of  the  sayings  of  this  great  man  or 
that,  and  of  this  and  the  other  noble  lord.  I  am  mortified  to  think, 
that  some  of  my  best  shafts  have  been  spent  in  air,  at  least  have 
not  hit  the  object  I  aimed  at. 

I  did  not  send  you  the  provisional*  articles,  because  I  know 
many  copies  went  over  in  the  Vigilant,  and  they  will  doubtless 
find  their  way  into  the  prints.  I  gave  you  some  desultory  observa- 
tions :  1.  Upon  the  general  construction  of  the  5th  and  6th  articles, 
as  they  affected  the  different  descriptions  of  the  loyalists,  and  more 
especially  as  they  applied  to  the  banishing  act.  2.  I  went  into  the 
particular  case  of  my  children  as  the  representatives  of  their  grand- 
father. I  will  endeavor  to  recollect  what  I  have  before  written, 
so  as  to  make  this  a  sort  of  duplicate.  The  clauses  are  by  no  means 
w^orded  with  perspicuity,  or  accurate  discrimination.  However,  one 
thing  is  clear,  that  there  is  to  be  no  more  loss  or  damage  suflfered 
by  any  body  "  in  person,  liberty,  or  property."  The  5th  clause 
relates  only  to  confiscated  estates,  so  that  according  to  the  letter, 
the  case  of  double  taxation  is  not  to  be  included  in  the  recommend- 
ation. But  the  spirit  of  the  two  clauses  seems  to  extend  to  this 
case,  for  the  greater  should  include  the  lesser,  and  if  even  persons 

*  Now  no  \on2,&x  provisional. 


324  THE     LIFE     OF 

attainted  are  to  be  recommended,  much  more  should  those  who  are 
less  guilty. 

I  have  recommended  to  you  to  make  yourself  thoroughly  mas- 
ter of  these  clauses,  their  spirit  and  meaning,  as  well  as  the  letter; 
writing  them  out  and  emphasizing  the  words  which  affect  the  object 
of  your  particular  inquiry,  will  be  of  use.  Our  friend  Harrison 
will  be  of  service  to  you,  and  will  supply  my  place  in  your  investi- 
gations. This  treaty  is  the  magna  charta  of  the  poor  loyalists,  and 
one  of  the  corner-stones  of  the  new  republic,  which  should  be  laid 
in  "  justice,  equity,  and  a  spirit  of  conciliation,"  and  let  me  add,  of 
mercy  and  liberality.*  All  animosities  should  now  be  buried 
under  this  new  edifice,  which  every  American  should  endeavor  to 
support,  to  strengthen,  and  to  beautify. 

There  are  clamors  and  grumblings  here  at  the  peace ;  but 
as  to  the  weight  of  the  objections,  I  trouble  myself  little  about 
them.  It  is  sufficient  that  it  is  peace.  It  is  too  common  a  prac- 
tice with  men,  to  employ  their  thoughts  upon  what  ought  to  have 
been  and  what  might  have  been  done.  In  these  retrospects  I  see 
no  use,  unless  they  will  enable  us  to  profit  by  them  in  future.  I 
have  endeavored,  as  I  often  tell  you,  to  consider  things  as  they 
really  were,  and  to  reason  from  them,  (and  not  from  my  own 
theories,)  of  what  probably  would  be  in  future.  A  new  jEra  now 
opens  to  our  view ;  let  us  look  forward  and  act,  not  from  the 
impulse  of  passion,  but  the  dictates  of  reason.  We  cannot  com- 
mand events  :  in  all  the  dispensations  of  Providence,  "  to  reason 
right  is  to  submit."  The  appeal  has  been  made  to  the  sword,  and 
the  decision  has  taken  place,     ^o  writ  of  error  \\\\\  help  the  losers. 

You  should  attend  very  closely  to  the  sentiments  of  the  people 
respecting  the  terms  of  peace,  which  I  hope  will  be  well  relished. 
Indeed,  America  has  had  a  carte  hlanche,  and  has  (as  I  surmised  in 
a  former  letter)  held  the  scale.  The  French  would  gladly  have 
kept  up  the  ball,  with  America  to  support  them.  This  country, 
therefore,  was  determined  to  satisfy  America,  who,  that  being  done, 
did  not  choose  to  be  made  subservient  to  the  views  of  France,  and 


♦  The  sacred  nature  of  the  first  treaty  made  by  Infant  States,  who  must 
be  desirous  of  laying  the  corner-stones  of  their  government  in  justice  clem- 
ency and  benignity,  will  strike  Sedgwick. 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  325 

she,  perceiving  this,  was  induced  to  close  with  Great  Britain.  My 
old  friend  Jay  has  exceedingly  distinguished  himself,  and  is  repre- 
sented as  one  of  the  greatest  orators  of  the  age. 

In  the  treaty  which  secured  the  independency  of  the  United 
Provinces,  in  1609,  there  was  a  stipulation  that  all  property,  though 
after  a  forty  years^  war,  should  be  restored  to  the  proprietors. 
Where  there  had  been  sales,  and  the  proceeds  put  into  the  treasury, 
the  owners  were  to  have  the  yearly  interest.  The  Catalonians 
were  also  restored  to  their  property,  by  an  express  article  of 
the  treaty  of  Utrecht,  or  the  peace  about  that  time  with  Spain.  I 
only  write  from  recollection,  in  which,  however,  as  to  the  substance 
I  am  sure  I  am  right,  having  seen  the  very  treaties.  It  may  be 
well  for  you  to  turn  to  the  histories  of  those  times. 

You  see  I  write  as  if  I  was  determined  upon  staying  here  some 
time  longer,  though  it  is  as  yet  a  matter  of  doubt.  Possibly  I  may 
go  out  in  May,  but  write  without  regard  to  this.  I  most  ardently 
long  for  my  return.  May  God  grant  me  once  more  a  sight  of  my 
native  country  and  beloved  friends  !*  A  life  of  retirement,  study 
and  reflection  is  my  object.  Tranquillity  and  the  "  calm  evening 
of  a  stormy  life,"  are  all  I  wish  for.  I  have  seen  enough  of  the 
world  to  have  formed  a  proper  estimate  of  its  value ;  and  all  it 
contains  worth  prizing,  are  the  pleasures  of  happy  domestic  connec- 
tions. Whether  I  shall  increase  mine,  depends  on  events  and 
circumstances. 

I  have  a  most  affectionate  letter  (with  an  offer  of  his  purse) 
from  an  old  friend  now  in  Paris,  and  am  not  without  hopes  of  seeing 
him  here.  Who  is  the  friend  who  was  thirstins:  for  letters  from 
me,  &c.  ?     Give  me  his  initials. 

I  am  afraid  I  shall  not  be  able,  as  I  intended,  to  write  to  Mr. 
Sedgwick.  My  eyes  cannot  stand  such  a  constant  exertion ;  still 
am  I  halting  between  two  minds  about  the  operation.  How  kind 
would  it  have  been,  had  you  told  me  Colonel  Philips's  fate,  and 
that  of  the  others  Mr.  Bailey  has  operated  upon  ! !  Good  or  bad, 
let  me  know  all.  I  have  no  childish  or  womanish  fears  against 
knowing  the  truth. 


*  Read  this  paragraph  to  ^Irs.  Silvester. 


326  THE     LIFE     OF 


TO  THE  SAxME. 

London,  19th  Feb.,  1783. 
My  dear  Brothers  : 

Your  several  letters  and  newspapers  by  the  packet,  and  by  Mr. 
Martin,  I  have  received  since  I  wrote  my  last.  By  the  mail  and 
by  the  Vigilant  I  have  written  so  fully,  that  I  will  content  myself 
Avith  a  reference  to  my  letters  on  the  important  subject  of  the  Pro- 
visional Articles  of  Peace.  On  Monday,  they  came  under  debate 
in  either  House.  In  the  upper,  the  ministry  carried  an  address  of 
approbation  and  thanks;  but  in  the  lower,  they  were  outvoted, 
and  the  peace  was  condemned,  though  by  all  hands  agreed  to  be 
beyond  the  power  of  being  revoked  or  set  aside. 

The  American  commissioners  have  engaged,  it  is  said,  warmly 
to  urge  the  matter  of  the  loyalists — particularly  Doctor  Franklin. 
This  has  been  mentioned  in  Parliament,  by  some  of  the  members. 
I  send  you  one  paper,  but  it  gives  an  imperfect  account  of  the 
debates ;  so  indeed  do  all  of  them  separately,  for  the  House  of 
Commons  did  not  rise  till  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  Lords 
not  till  four  o'clock.  I  was  not  present,  for  it  was  impossible  to 
get  in,  except  by  waiting  many  hours  in  a  crowded  lobby  before 
the  debates  began,  which  I  thought  was  purchasing  the  gratifica- 
tion at  too  dear  a  rate.  It  is  thought  that  this  peace  is  so  very 
advantageous  to  the  States,  that  they  will  cheerfully  submit  to  the 
recommendations  of  Congress,  (who,  it  seems  by  the  debates,  had 
given  express  powers  to  stipulate  thus  far  but  no  farther.)  The 
vast  territory  ceded  to  them,  which  was  never  claimed  as  part  of 
the  States,  it  is  thought  will  have  great  weight  with  them. 
Whether  the  peace  will  be  deemed  a  good  one  or  not  by  Congress, 
certainly  it  is  thought  a  bad  one  here,  and  will  probably  cost  the 
minister  his  place. 

An  American  ambassador  is  soon  to  make  his  entry  (it  is  said 
a  public  one)  into  London.  Believe  me,  that  however  unpalatable 
this  may  be  to  many,  yet  the  great  bulk  of  the  nation  will  hail  the 
event  with  real  joy.  The  people  at  large  love  the  Americans, 
though  the  tender  ties  are  dissolved.  One  or  two  vessels,  with  the 
thirteen  stripes  flying,  are  now  in  the  river  Thames,  and  the  crews 
caressed. 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  327 

Pray  give  me  the  particulars  about  Vermont.  You  say  the  se- 
ceding towns  of  New  Hampshire  will  revert  in  case  of  indepen- 
dence. 1  should  have  thought  just  the  contrary.  I  expect  to  see 
that  disturbance  effectually  crushed  before  the  army  is  disbanded. 
My  dear  brother,  consult  your  understanding  upon  the  nature  and 
probability  of  the  intelligence  you  get,  before  you  communicate 
it.  Sedgwick  could  open  a  rich  mine  of  political  internal  informa- 
tion; but  I  commend  in  the  highest  degree  his  silence  to  you.  He 
is  a  man  near  my  heart,  and  1  think  our  minds  have  a  near  alli- 
ance. What  good  could  we  have  done  had  we  both  been  on  one 
side !  Tell  him,  I  shall  go  over  every  way  as  worthy  his  friend- 
ship as  I  ever  was,  and  shall  have  it  in  my  power,  I  hope,  to  en- 
tertain him  not  a  little  w^hen  we  meet. 

God  Almighty  bless  you  all,  prays. 

My  dear  Harry  and  David, 

Your  affectionate  brother, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

TO  THE  SAME. 

London,  22d  Feb.,  1783. 
My  dear  Brothers  : 

As  I  expect  I  shall  have  some  further  materials  for  a  letter,  in 
addition  to  what  I  have  already  written,  before  the  frigate  sails, 
permit  me  to  begin  it  with  a  very  serious  injunction,  that  you  will 
contrive  to  give  me  the  most  authentic  information  of  what  success 
we  may  pjvbably  expect,  in  the  intended  application  on  behalf  of 
my  children  for  a  restoration  of  their  grandfather's  property ;  for 
as  I  expect  this  nation  wdll  do  something  by  way  of  compensation 
for  confiscated  property,  it  will  be  incumbent  on  me,  in  perform- 
ance of  the  trust  I  am  vested  with,  to  apply  here  ;  but  this  I  only 
mean  as  the  last  resort,  as  I  would  infinitely  prefer  a  restoration  on 
your  side  of  the  water  to  any  thing,  though  adequate,  which  could 
be  done  here,  as  being  much  more  honorable  in  my  mind.* 

The  minister  is  again  outvoted,  and  a  change,  I  take  for 
granted,  will  follow.     The  coalition  between  Mr.  Fox  and  Lord 

*  Mr.  V.  S.  wrote  under  the  erroneous  impression  that  his  father-in-law's 
estate  had  been  confiscated.  Henry  Cruger's  name  does  not  appear  among 
the  number  of  those  whose  estates  were  confiscated. 


328  THE     LIFE     OF 

North  seems  to  be  cemented.  What  a  forgiving  set  of  men  does 
the  present  age  produce !  Perhaps  all  this  may  work  out  some 
good  to  the  poor  loyalists,  and  in  any  other  point  of  view,  their 
changes,  cabals  and  intrigues,  are  of  little  consideration  to  our 
countrymen.  Lord  S.  has  been  made  the  scape-goat,  and  has  done 
and  brought  about  what  his  enemies  wished  to  he  done,  what 
Fox's  party  would  have  done  if  they  had  been  in  power,  and  what 
Lord  N.'s  would  hardly  have  dared  to  keep  up  the  war  to  'prevent. 
All  parties  wished  for  peace,  but  as  an  honorable  or  advantageous 
one  could  not  be  obtained,  and  as  the  nation  began  to  feel  bold 
when  the  danger  was  over,  and  to  think  they  jnight  have  obtained 
what  they  wanted  spirit  to  avow  during  the  war,  the  malcontents 
availed  themselves  of  this  high  war-toned  spirit  when  the  war  was 
over,  and  criminated  the  minister  for  a  peace  so  humiliating  in  the 
present  formidable  state  of  the  naval  power  and  the  resources  of 
the  nation !  While  I  was  writing,  an  account  of  last  night's  de- 
bates was  brought  me,  in  which  I  find  Lord  N.  expressly  declares 
the  act  to  make  peace  with  America  (which  originated  in  his  ad- 
ministration) was  intended  to  give  the  King  power  to  declare  i/ide- 
jpendence. 

If  in  the  patchwork  of  the  conduct  of  the  great  men  for  years 
past,  you  can  see  any  two  pieces  that  look  alike,  you  will  be  saga- 
cious. For  my  own  part,  I  frankly  own  I  am  not  disappointed.  I 
wonder  at  nothing.  I  formed  my  observations  with  great  care  and 
candor,  and  endeavored  to  know  "  what  manner  of  men  these 
were,"  and  if  I  have  often  erred,  I  have  sometimes  been  right. 
Can  you  wonder  that  my  heart  beat  with  joy,  when  I  saw  the 
dawnings  of  peace — a  peace  upon  any  terms,  that  our  country 
might  get  rid  of  the  infernal  war,  which  deluged  her  in  blood,  and 
which  for  many  years  has  had  no  one  object  that  a  wise  man  could 
discover ;  or  at  least,  when  known,  which  a  good  man  could  approve? 
Who  can  dare  to  charge  me  with  inconsistency,  seeing,  as  I  have 
seen,  what  people  we  are  connected  with,  for  wishing,  as  I  fervently 
did,  for  the  event  which  is  now  settled  ?  I  declare  solemnly  that 
the  love  of  my  country,  and  no  personal  considerations,  was  the 
foundation  oi my  principles,  which  never  have  wavered.  Consistency, 
to  be  a  virtue,  must  be  an  adherence  to  principles,  and  not  to  opin- 
ions  formed  upon  misinformation. 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  329 

I  thank  you  for  the  newspapers,  the  resolutions  concernlnor 
Vermont,  the  decision  ao;ainst  Connecticut,  the  Virginia  resolves  : 
those  of  Newburgh  and  Fredericksburg  have  not  escaped  a  pretty- 
close  consideration,  'i'his  is  a  species  of  intelligence  essentially 
material,  and  I  wish  you  would  keep  an  eye  upon  it  in  future. 
Every  public  procedure  should  be  noticed.  It  is  from  them  that 
we  are  to  form  an  idea  of  the  temper  of  the  times. 

I  have  several  times  had  it  in  mind,  to  propose  giving  a  set  of 
books,  as  a  premium  for  the  best  exercise  in  the  Jvinderhook  Acad- 
emy upon  the  subject  of  peace,  and  the  means  of  improving  it  in 
a  manner  most  conducive  to  the  happiness  of  society.  You  may 
be  sure  that  I  should  not  expect  much  of  the  political  knowledge 
of  the  statesman ;  but  the  interests  of  humanity,  of  morality  and 
religion,  I  would  have  chiefly  considered.  A  contrast  between  the 
horrors  of  war,  and  the  tranquil  blessings  of  peace — the  turbulent 
passions  and  animosities  which  grow  out  of  the  one,  with  the  phi- 
lanthropy and  social  affections  of  the  other — the  cultivation  of  the 
arts  and  sciences,  would  suggest  topics.     I  would  rather  Harry 

should  merit  than  obtain  the  premium.     If  S approves  this,  let 

it  be  in  his  name  rather  than  mine,  and  you  may  give  a  guinea  or 
two  for  the  purpose.  This  is  not  a  mere  whim,  nor  does  it  proceed 
from  ostentation,  but  I  really  think  every  citizen  of  America,  should 
endeavor  as  much  as  possible  to  disseminate  principles  of  humanity, 
and  to  prevent  the  deadly  feuds  which  too  often  grow  out  of  civil 
wars.  "  Shame  to  men!  devil  with  devil  damn'd,  firm  concord 
holds,  man  only  disagrees,"  &c. — says  Milton,  Parad.  Lost,  Book 
II.  line  495. 

The  prosecution  of  the  printer  at  Philadelphia,  and  the  conduct 
of  the  C.  Justice  towards  the  grand-jury,  really  surprised  me. 

I  am  exceedingly  anxious  to  know  w^hat  sort  of  maxims  the 
States  will  adopt  in  this  time  of  peace ;  the  wisdom  of  them  must 
determine  what  degree  of  happiness  the  country  is  to  expect,  at 
least,  in  our  time. 

Feb.  28th.  All  is  in  confusion  in  the  struggle  for  places,  and 
to  this  hour,  no  arrangement  has  yet  taken  place.  All  parties  are 
now  contending  who  shall  reap  the  fruit  of  the  peace,  while  all 
agree  to  wound  Lord  S.  with  the  thorns.  I  shall  not  be  surprised 
soon  to  see  the  delirium  subside,  and  the  peace  considered  as  a  ben- 

42 


330  THE      LIFE      OF 

eficial  one.  The  city  of  London  have  unanimously  approved  it. 
It  will  be  a  matter  of  curiosity  to  you  to  read  the  debates,  and  of 
use  to  you  in  forming  an  estimate  of  some  people's  extent  of  un- 

derstandinf^. 

You  may  recollect  a  little  essay,  "  Thoughts  upon  Civil  Wars;" 
turn  to  it  and  read  Lord  Littleton's  dialogues, — the  first  especially 
between  Hampden  and  Falkland,  with  some  papers  on  parties  in 
the  Spectator,  (one  in  the  first,  second,  or  third  volume  especially.) 
The  voice  of  reason  is  often  silenced  amidst  the  din  of  faction,  and 
in  the  heat  of  animosity,  but  intervals  succeed  to  paroxysms.  If  a 
man  cannot  do  all  the  good  he  wishes,  let  him  do  what  he  can.  A 
well  disposed  mind  will  never  want  a  sphere  to  exert  itself  in. 

March  16th.  As  to  politics,  there  has  been  a  perfect  anarchy 
here  for  near  a  month,  but  it  is  said  an  administration  is  at  length 
settled,  at  the  head  of  which  is  the  Duke  of  Portland,  or  in  other 
words,  so  is  his  grace  nominally,  but  the  person  who  has  set  every 
thing  in  motion,  is  Mr.  Fox. 

When  you  see  some  of  our  judicious  friends  in  the  country,  con- 
fer with  them  on  the  subject  of  the  finances,  the  public  debts,  &c. 
of  the  United  States.  I  want  to  be  able  to  confute  the  ridiculous 
notions  which  some  people  advance,  of  the  exhausted  state  of  the 
country.  In  spite  of  all  former  experience,  they  speak  of  America 
as  if  it  was  governed  by  people  who  had  not  come  to  years  of  dis- 
cretion, and  wanted  guardians  to  superintend  them.  To  be  sure, 
it  is  from  Europe  that  these  guardians  ought  to  be  sent.  Another 
topic  is,  that  the  states  will  quarrel  among  themselves,  and  that 
they  will  be  compelled  to  call  in  European  powers  to  their  assist- 
ance.* But  I  trust  in  the  wisdom  of  the  ruling  powers,  to  adjust 
all  these  matters  at  once,  and  so  prevent  the  seeds  of  dissension 
from  springing  up.  Every  American  of  every  description  should 
unite  in  this  business.  A  sketch  of  what  measures  government 
will  pursue  towards  the  places  now  in  commotion,  \\'\\\  be  very  in- 
teresting. 

I  trust  I  shall  have  a  particular  account  of  all  our  friends  in 
the  country,  the  number  of  which  I  dare  say,  is  not  a  little  dimin- 


■f  These  things  are  thrown  out  to  check  the  spirit  of  emigration,  which  I 
encourage  as  far  as  is  in  my  power. 


PETER     VAN     SCIIAACK.  331 

ishcd  by  deatli  in  this  length  of  time  since  I  left  them.  What  a 
change  will  our  native  place  undergo !  What  cheerful  hours  we 
have  spent  there !  You  have  not  for  some  time  mentioned  our 
mother.  God  grant  I  may  once  more  see  her,  but  1  very  much 
apprehend  this  will  not  be  this  year,  as  I  think  it  will  be  impossi- 
ble for  me  to  get  away  without  prejudice  to  the  concerns  which 
have  been  intrusted  to  me. 

I  have  written  my  boy  Harry,  but  I  believe  the  vessel  is  not 
yet  gone.  She  was  to  have  carried  over  despatches,  if  the  minister 
could  have  kept  his  ground. 

I  shall  send  your  ring  by  the  next  ship.  I  have  lately  traced 
out  our  family  in  Holland,  and  find  it  respectable.  I  will  also 
send  you  the  arms.     Heaven  preserve  you  all. 

Yours  most  affectionately, 

P.  V.  S. 

TO  THE  SAME. 

London,  4th  March,  1783. 
My  dear  Brothers  : 

The  January  packet  sailed  the  16th  of  that  month  with  three 
mails,  and  the  February  packet  with  that  month's  mail  sailed  the 
23d  ultimo ;  and  the  Vigilant,  a  merchant  ship,  sailed  about  the 
17th  February.  By  all  which  conveyances  you  will  have  letters 
and  very  copious  ones  from  me,  wdth,  I  believe,  the  latest  advices, 
though  not  the  latest  dates,  to  the  time  of  the  respective  departure 
of  those  ships.  The  Crocodile  frigate  or  sloop  was  to  have  sailed 
about  ten  days  ago,  and  I  wrote  two  or  three  letters  to  go  by  her, 
but  the  confusion  w^hich  has  taken  place  among  the  great  folks, 
has  prevented  this  vessel's  sailing  ;  and  I  know  not  what  is  be- 
come of  the  letters. 

The  effects  of  the  peace  upon  its  first  annunciation,  in  the  difT- 
erent  states,  and  among  different  descriptions  of  men,  and  the  ani- 
madversions upon  it  in  the  prints,  I  shall  hope  to  have  from  you. 
My  anxious  hopes  are,  that  there  may  be  demonstrations  of  joy  on 
the  occasion,  though  I  fear  that  the  articles  in  favor  of  the  loyalists, 
will  not  be  very  palatable.  The  animosities  are  deeply  rooted, 
and  are  not  easily  eradicated.  In  Europe,  the  peace  is  considered 
as  a  most  advantageous  and  a  most  honorable  one  to  America.    In 


332  THE     LIFE     OF 

this  country  it  is  much  reprobated,  so  far  as  respects  the  other 
powers,  but  such  is  the  general  prejudice  in  favor  of  the  Americans, 
such  was  the  abhorrence  of  that  war,  that  the  pill  is  swallowed  for 
the  sake  of  being  at  peace  with  that  country,  since  that  could  not 
be  obtained  without  a  general  pacification,  which  they  would  have 
wished  to  avoid,  if  they  could  have  been  at  peace  with  America, 
from  a  desire  of  humbling  the  power  of  France.  The  articles  re- 
specting the  loyalists  are  also  found  fault  wnth,but  for  this  there  is 
an  obvious  remedy.  A  part  of  one  year's  expense  of  the  war, 
only,  \\\\\  reimburse  these  unfortunate  men.  Something  of  this 
sort,  I  believe,  will  be  done  as  soon  as  the  present  anarchy  gives 
way  to  some  arrangement. 

For  near  a  fortnight  there  has  been  a  sort  of  interregnum  in 
administration,  in  consequence  of  the  minister's  being  outvoted  the 
17th  instant.  Nothing  has  been  heard  of  but  cabals  and  intrigues 
amono  the  heads  of  the  different  factions  ever  since.  Lord  North's 
coalition  with  Mr.  Fox  will  perhaps  surprise  you.  I  have  seen  so 
many  strange  things,  that  I  wonder  at  nothing — nil  admirari  is  my 
motto.  Such  a  set !  I  owm  I  have  my  fears  that  the  confusions 
here  will  have  bad  effects,  as  they  already  have  had,  from  the  mis- 
taken ideas  that  the  objections  to  the  terms  of  the  peace,  go  to  the 
validity  of  it. 

Some  of  our  friends  think  a  great  point  is  gained  by  Lord  S.'s 
being  overturned.  I  cannot  agree  with  them.  I  should  imagine 
that  the  American  commissioners  would  rather  neirotiate,  with 
respect  to  the  treaty  of  commerce,  with  those  with  whom  they  have 
hitherto  proceeded  amicably,  than  with  such  as  come  in  upon  the 
principle,  that  too  much  has  been  yielded  already  to  America.  A 
good  understanding  between  this  court  and  that  of  Philadelphia 
might  prove  favorable  to  the  poor  loyalists.  Mr.  Fox  savs  he 
wishes  no  terms  had  been  stipulated,  rather  than  such  as  they  are, 
with  respect  to  the  loyalists.  Some  of  our  countrymen  hold  the 
same  heroic  language.  Why  ?  Because  the  recommendations  will 
not  be  attended  to  with  respect  to  the  confiscations.  But  are  there 
no  descriptions  of  loyalists  but  such  whose  estates  have  been  con- 
fiscated ?  Are  none  relieved  by  the  treaty  such  as  it  is  ?  Ls  it  no 
conside;  ation,  that  future  confiscations  and  future  punishments  of 
every  kind,  are  taken  away  ?     Is  it  nothing  that  the  number  who 


r  !•  T  R  R     VAN    s  c  n  A  A  C  K  .  333 

have  little  or  no  property,  and  can  get  their  bread  in  America,  and 
^vho  would  otherwise  have  been  compelled  to  quit  it,  arc  now 
enabled  to  remain  there  ?  Are  our  friends  out  of  the  lines,  w  hose 
minds  will  now  be  relieved  from  the  terrors  of  prosecutions  to 
which  they  were  liable,  (those  terrors  I  fancy  not  much  lessened 
by  certain  publications  here,)  of  no  consideration  ? 

It  is,  I  am  sure,  quite  unnecessary  to  mention  that  we  ought 
now^  to  consider  ourselves  in  no  other  light  than  that  of  citizens  of 
America,  and  to  cultivate  the  blessings  of  peace  by  every  means 
in  our  power.  The  affairs  and  concerns  of  England  will  in  a  little 
time  affect  us  no  more  than  those  of  any  other  state  in  Europe,  nor 
shall  I  hanker  after  the  leeks  and  onions  of  Egypt,  I  assure  you, 
when  I  get  back  to  America.  When  that  will  be  is  not  quite  so 
clear,  but  in  choosing  the  time,  my  friends  must  submit  to  my  pru- 
dence. My  heart  is  with  you,  for  more  reasons  than  1  can  tell, 
and  for  other  reasons  I  must  still  suspend  my  resolution  as  to  the 
time  of  putting  it  in  execution. 

As  you  are  well  acquainted  with  the  northern  country,  I  need 
not  delineate  or  comment  upon  the  boundaries  of  the  United  States. 
This  has  occasioned  much  grumbling  here,  and  it  is  said  more  is 
granted  than  America  claimed.  If  this  is  so,  may  it  not  have  been 
done  upon  some  secret  confidence,  that  the  indulgences  to  the  loy- 
alists will  be  the  better  received  and  complied  with  ?  Certain  it 
is,  that  in  all  pacifications,  (that  especially  in  1609,  securing  the 
independence  of  the  Netherlands,)  stipulations  have  been  made  in 
favor  of  the  adherents  of  the  mother  country,  and  acts  of  oblivion 
have  accompanied  the  cessation  of  hostilities.  The  gradual  pro- 
gress of  the  evacuation,  will  afford  a  favorable  opportunity  of 
beginning  an  intercourse  with  the  country,  and  of  the  people's 
mixing  together.  I  was  always  afraid  of  an  evacuation  while  the 
\var  continued,  though  my  reason  was  convinced,  that  in  the 
nature  of  things  it  could  not  be.  It  was  said  in  the  House  of 
Commons  yesterday,  that  it  would  be  six  months  before  the 
evacuation  could  be  completed. 

Pray  how  is  it  with  the  act  to  prevent  us  from  practising  the 
law?  Not  that  I  intend  ever  to  resume  this,  unless  I  should  ofet 
into  a  domestic  connection  once  more ;  but  in  that  case,  I  own  I 


334  THE     LIFE     OF 

should  wish  to  be  at  liberty.     You  will  be  tired  of  this  long  letter, 
so  am  I ;  therefore  adieu  ! 

Yours,  affectionately, 

P.  V.  S. 

TO  THE  SAME. 

London,  20th  March,  1783. 
My  dear  Brothers  : 

I  have  written  to  you  by  every  packet,  and  every  other  convey- 
ance I  heard  of,  since  the  important  event  of  the  peace,  so  that  you 
will  be  in  possession  of  all  the  information  in  my  power  to  give 
you.  The  events  of  the  last  month  have  been  of  little  consequence, 
on  account  of  the  anarchy  in  the  administration,  which  is  at  length 
fixed,  as  w^e  hear,  according  to  the  dictate  of  the  Duke  of  Port- 
land, or  rather  of  Mr.  Fox.  The  King  has  not  been  permitted  the 
nomination  of  one  single  member,  as  the  report  goes.  Strange 
doings,  but  what  are  they  to  us  who  are  citizens  of  America  and 
aliens  here  ?  Let  us  content  ourselves  with  the  milk  and  honey 
of  our  native  country,  without  a  latent  wish  for  the  leeks  and 
onions  of  the  old. 

I  cannot  too  often  repeat  my  anxiety  to  hear  every  particular 
of  the  reception  the  peace  meets  with  in  America.  I  hope  it  will 
be  a  welcome  guest,  though  I  fear  some  of  the  features  will  not  be 
altogether  pleasing.  In  Europe,  however,  it  is  considered  that 
America  has  had  a  carte  blanche,  and  in  fact  dictated  her  own  terms. 
Certain  it  is,  that  Lord  Shelburne's  administration  w^as  overset  by 
the  notion  which  prevailed  of  his  having  conceded  too  much. 
There  is,  notwithstanding,  in  this  nation,  the  most  cordial  affection 
to  the  Americans,  and  I  believe  one  half  of  it  w^ill  emigrate  to  that 
promised  land ;  indeed,  I  do  not  wonder  at  it.  The  American 
stripes  have  already  appeared  in  the  Thames,  and  have  been  hailed 
with  acclamations  of  joy. 

There  seems  to  be  a  general  competition  among  the  powers  of 
Europe,  which  shall  most  conciliate  the  affections  of  the  new  States. 
What  prospects  are  opened  to  them  !  If  their  interior  governments 
are  but  wisely  conducted,  if  no  dissensions  break  out  between  the 
different  States,  respecting  boundaries  particularly,  they  will  rise 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  335 

into  opulence  and  power  with  \inexam})lc'(l  rapidity.  I  hope  most 
fervently  that  the  harraony  and  unanimity  prevalent  there,  will  be 
a  contrast  to  the  distractions  which  still  continue  here  !  All  is 
acfain  in  confusion,  and  the  coalition  between  Fox  and  North  is 
said  to  be  so  generally  odious,  that  it  is  likely  to  fail,  and  that  Mr. 
Pitt,  (the  most  amiable  character  of  all  the  competitors,)  young  as 
he  is,  will  be  the  premier,  supported  by  the  Ikdford  party,  the 
Sherburnites,  and  a  great  proportion  of  the  independent  country 
gentlemen.     What  number  they  consist  of,  I  am  yet  to  learn. 

Yours  most  sincerely, 

P.  V.  S. 

TO  THE  SAME. 

London,  26th  May,  1783. 
Mv  DEAR  Brothers  : 

It  was  not  till  five  days  after  the  letters  in  the  mails  were  de- 
livered out,  that  I  received  mine  by  our  friend  Hayes,  whom  I  have 
however  not  seen.  I  thank  you  for  those  letters,  which  are  inter- 
esting indeed,  and  judiciously  calculated  to  meet  ray  inquiries.  I 
am  glad  Benson  retains  his  old  attachments.  It  really  touched  my 
heart,  and  revived  the  feelings  of  my  early  days.  I  wish  I  had  a 
copy  made  out  to  send  you  of  a  letter  from  my  old  friend  Jay.  My 
tour  to  Holland  and  France  is  suspended,  in  consequence  of  a 
report  that  he  is  coming  over  here.  Sedgwick  has  my  unabated 
affection.  In  him  there  never  existed  a  circumstance,  that  could 
even  create  a  suspicion  whether  he  was  the  same  man  as  ever — 
uniformly  friendly  !  I  know  not  how  to  express  myself  with  suffi- 
cient energy  respecting  him. 

Your  letter  operated  as  a  flat  contradiction  to  almost  all  the 
accounts  we  had,  and  you  may  be  sure  w^as  valuable  on  that  score. 
How  loosely  do  some  people  take  up  serious  matters  !  The  Trespass 
Act  is  made  a  handle  of,  charging  the  Americans  with  a  total  dis- 
regard of  conciliation,  as  well  as  of  the  treaty.  I  have  not  time  to 
discuss  how  far  it  is,  or  is  not,  superseded  by  the  sixth  article. 

The  object  of  the  politicians  now  is,  to  prove,  1.  That  General 
Washington  is  to  be  the  Cromwell  of  America,  and  that  the  sedi- 
tious papers  are  encouraged  by  himself,  to  facilitate  his  purposes. 
2.  That  the  United  States  arc  bankrupts,  and  therefore,  3.  That 


336  THE     LIFE     OF 

they  cannot  pay  off  the  arrears  to  the  army,  which  are  computed 
at  ^671  millions  sterling.  4.  That  General  Washington  acts  in 
concert  with  France,  and  that  when  the  British  troops  are  with- 
drawn, a  body  of  French  will  probably  land  in  America  as  auxilia- 
ries to  him  ;  and,  to  consummate  all,  that  America  is  to  be  a  scene 
of  blood,  from  the  intestine  divisions  which  will  take  place  very 
soon ;  that  her  troubles  are  hut  beginnivg,  &c.,  &c.  Now  all  this 
may  be  true,  but,  as  I  am  not  in  the  secrets  of  futurity,  I  cannot 
adopt  it  in  my  creed.  Davus  sum  non  CEdipus  ;  that  is  to  say,  I 
am  no  prophet. 

My  love  to  all  friends.     Yours  affectionately, 

P.  V.  S. 

TO  HENRY  VAN  SCHAACK. 

London,  \2lh  July,  1783. 
My  dear  Brother  : 

I  thank  you  for  your  long  letters  by  the  Iris,  which,  I  will  venture 
to  say,  contain  more  authentic  and  well  selected  intelligence  of 
•what  is,  as  well  as  more  rational  conjectures  of  what  probably  icill 
he,  than,  judging  from  some  specimens,  all  the  rest  of  the  letters 
besides.  The  violent  proceedings  we  hear  of  are  not  unexpected 
to  me,  and  therefore  they  do  not  shock  me  so  much  as  they  do 
many  others.  I  was  afraid,  ignominious  as  the  provisional  articles 
were  deemed  here,  as  relating  to  the  loyalists,  that  they  would  be 
received  in  a  very  different  light  on  your  side  the  water,  and  that 
induced  me  to  be  so  very  importunate  about  the  reception  they 
might  meet  with,  in  that  country  where  they  were  to  have  their 
operation.  I  expected  a  storm,  but  I  do  hope  it  will  spend  itself 
by  its  own  violence. 

I  own  to  you  that  I  do  not  perceive  any  thing  that  has  yet  hap- 
pened, which  is  not  dechicible  from  the  general  principles  of  human 
nature,  as  have  been  delineated  in  the  history  of  all  violent  times ; 
but  I  shall  be  astonished  indeed,  if  after  some  little  time  a  sort  of 
calm  does  not  succeed  to  the  present  agitations.  It  would  be  a 
curious  speculation,  to  jdiscuss  the  probable  progress  and  termination 
of  these  commotions  and  party  animosities,  and  if  I  had  leisure,  I 
would  gladly  make  an  essay,  an  humble  one  I  am  conscious  it 
would  be  ;  but,  however  I  might  feel  the  want  of  abihty,  yet  as  I 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  337 

believe  there  are  few  men  who  possess  and  exercise  a  greater  share 
of  candor,  (at  least  on  'political  subjects,)  I  should  not  despair  of 
sometimes  coming  near  the  truth.  However  I  may  be  swayed  by 
petulance  in  small  matters,  yet  upon  these  great  topics,  I  endeavor 
to  view  things,  not  with  the  jaundiced  eye  of  prejudice,  but  with 
a  philosophic  expansion  and  liberality. 

Your  conjecture  about  the  motive  of  Congress  in  delaying  the 
recommendation,  is  equally  candid  and  rational.  I  may  add  too, 
that  the  motive  you  ascribed  to  them  is  politic.  Instances  of  in- 
attention to  their  recommendations  should  not  be  multiplied.  The 
United  States  will  be  a  rope  of  sand,  if  some  controlling,  superin- 
tending power  is  not  maintained.  The  last"CWm,"  upon  this 
subject,  can  be  equalled  only  by  the  other  productions  of  that  truly 
sensible  writer.  I  am  still  of  opinion,  that  all  the  difficulties 
America  labors  under  will  be  easily  overcome,  if  the  different  States 
will  look  at  the  object  of  a  united  interest,  and  one  common  hap- 
piness. 

The  gentleman  you  describe  from  a  certain  circumstance  which 
was  too  friendly  to  be  forgotten,  I  fear  is  too  sanguine  and  liberal. 
My  hopes  go  not  so  far  ;  however,  what  he  says  is  a  proof  of  the 
goodness  of  his  heart,  and  of  the  pure  principles  he  has  acted  upon, 
of  which,  from  an  early  intimacy  with  him,  I  never  entertained  a 
doubt.     I  am  sanguine  enough  to  think  that  he  remembeis  me 
with  some  degree  of  regard  — indeed  as  to  intention  and  motive, 
I  am  not  conscious  of  ever  having  done  any  thing  to  forfeit  the 
friendship  of  any  man  whatsoever.     Indeed,  the  estimate  I  have 
formed  of  human  life,  and  of  all  that  the  world  contains,  is  such  as 
will  secure  me  from  pursuing  any  objects  I  might  have  in  view, 
by  violating  the  duties  of  any  of  the  social  connections.     I  am 
aware  that  holding  up  principles  of  liberality,  humanity,  and  the 
obligation  of  former  attachments,  may  be  ascribed  to  selfish  mo- 
tives in  people  of  our  description,  but  I  appeal  to  you,  whether 
under  the  pressure  of  severe  measures,  in  confidential  conversa- 
tions, and  in  solitary  disquisitions,  I  ever  wanted  charity  in  the 
construction  of  the  actions  of  others.     Do  as  you  would  be  done 
by,  judge  as  you  would  be  judged  of,  is  the  great  principle  1  en- 
deavor not  to  lose  sight  of. 

With  respect  to  myself  too,  I  write  upon  the  subject  as  a  man, 

43 


338  THE     LIFE     OF 

not  as  a  person  who  has  his  own  particular  situation  to  bias  him  ; 
for  I  am  happy  enough,  not  to  be  necessitated  to  return  to  America, 
I  can  Hve  out  of  it, — there  are  many  doors  open  to  me  if  I  choose 
to  take  any  pains,  which  hitherto  I  have  not  ddne,  as  all  my  af- 
fections (not  my  interest,  I  assure  you)  draw  we  to  my  native  coun- 
try. Excuse  my  saying  so  much,  but  my  heart  is  so  warmed  by 
these  subjects,  that  I  cannot  resist  the  impulse  of  disburthening  it. 
You  say  you  had  almost  determined  not  to  have  said  any  thing 
about  the  state  of  the  country,  as  things  have  not  yet  got  into  a 
determined  train.  I  am  glad  you  did  not  suffer  this  reason  to  pre- 
vail. It  will  be  no  impeachment  of  your  judgment  if  your  conjec- 
tm-es  fail ;  but  your  intelligence  has  been  truly  interesting  to  me, 
and  I  beg  you  will  go  on  in  the  same  way.  "  To  catch  the  man- 
ners living  as  they  rise"  must  be  our  common  object;  from  hence, 
however,  you  have  not  much  to  expect  as  to  intelligence — that  day 
is  over,  unless  the  definitive  treaty  should  meet  with  impediments, 
which  I  own  I  have  some  fears  about. 

I  want  our  country  to  be  completely  free  from  European  poli- 
tics, or,  at  least,  I  dread  any  discussions  that  have  a  retrospect  to 
the  past.  Oblivion  is  what  I  wish.  Let  us  begin  of  a  new  en- 
tirely.    Much  as  Lord  S e  is  execrated,  I  sincerely  believe  he 

would  have  wound  up  this  business  more  for  the  honor  of  this 
country,  (but  what  is  that  to  us?)  as  well  as  more  beneficially  for 
the  poor  loyahsts,  which  does  concern  us,  and  concerns  humanity 
too,  than  the  present  motley,  patchwork  administration.  This  I 
know  would  be  called  a  paradox  by  certain  politicians,  but  I  have 
long  learnt  what  is  due  to  their  opinions.  I  was  called  an  un- 
believing Thomas,  because  I  called  in  question  the  Report,  the 
rise  and  progress  of  which  you  have  so  satisfactorily  explained. 

D d  politics !  infernal  Jesuitry,  which  justifies  the  means,  be 

they  never  so  infamous,  by  the  end  it  has  in  view.     How  many 
good  men  fall  into  this  abyss  of  error ! 

If  possible,  I  will  send  you,  Cornelius  and  David  each  a  seal 
with  the  family  arms.  The  motto  is  of  my  own  choosing ;  the 
idea  is,  that  fortune  is  to  be  overcome  by  enduring  it  with  patience 
and  fortitude.  I  have  taken  it  out  of  (my  favorite)  Virgil.  Tell 
Harry  to  look  to  the  5th  iEneid,  line  709.  I  was  the  readier  to 
give  this  a  preference  to  some  others,  because  it  is  connected  in 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  339 

the  author  with   the  idea  my  dear  boy  held  up  in  a  quotation  of 
his  own,  in  his  last  letter  but  one.     But  it  is  my  philosophy. 

I  approve  much  of  the  use  you  have  made  of  my  remarks  on 
the  provisional  articles,  but  wish  1  had  been  more  correct  than  I 
fear  I  was.  A  little  of  the  impetuous  I  know  belongs  to  rne,  and 
in  avoidin<2;  one  extreme,  I  often  run  into  another.  I  am  seldom  a 
tenant  in  the  castle  of  indolence.  When  the  articles  were  an- 
nounced, I  found  several  people  I  converse  with  were  spending 
their  time  in  speculating  on  the  infamy  of  the  articles ;  on  the 
degradation  of  British  dignity,  and  the  like ;  nay,  some  were 
controverting  whether  the  nation  w^as  hound  by  the  peace,  and 
whether  the  limits  of  the  prerogative  were  not  transgressed.  I 
threw  all  these  out  of  the  question  as  Eutopian  investigations,  and 
endeavored  to  consider  the  subject  in  a  practical  way,  and  this 
very  early,  that  you  might  have  the  first  fruits  of  my  thoughts. 

There  are  some  severe  stings  in  the  Worcester  resolves  ;  they 
touch  not  me,  but  they  are  pointed.  I  am  happy  that  /  do  not 
deserve  them.  I  mean  as  to  what  relates  to  transactions  after  the 
commencement  of  the  negotiation,  and  more  especially  those  after 
the  conclusion  of  the  peace.  These  resolves,  however,  do  not,  in 
my  opinion,  make  the  proper  allow^ance  for  human  frailty ;  they 
go  upon  a  principle  that  men  cannot  innocently  differ  from  each 
other  ;  they  try  imperfect  beings  by  rules  of  perfection,  the  resolvers 
being  themselves  the  judges  of  what  truth  is.  The  distinction  made 
by  civilians  seems  not  to  have  been  adverted  to,  between  actions 
materially  and  fornially  good.  Truth  cannot  indeed  consist  with 
contradictory  propositions,  but  Omniscience  alone  can  decide 
which  is  right  and  which  wrong.  To  ourselves,  indeed,  our  own 
judgments  must  be  the  rule  of  action,  our  conscience  must  be 
our  law ;  but  that  which  is  convincing  evidence  to  us,  may  not  be 
so  to  others,  and  yet  we  may  be  all  equally  innocent  in  the  sight 
of  God. 

"The  good  must  merit  God's  peculiar  care, 
But  wlio,  but  God,  can  tell  us  who  they  are  ?" 

I  w^ill  not  dwell  on  this  subject.  You  have  a  little  essay  of 
mine  upon  it.  The  principles  of  toleration,  religious  as  well  as 
political,  have  been  very  seriously  investigated  by  me,  and  the 


340  THE     LIFE     OF 

result  of  my  attention  to  this  subject,  since  I  came  here,  has  con- 
firmed me  in  the  ideas  I  took  up  seven  or  eight  years  ago.  Our 
characters  are  not  fully  known,  till  we  have  quitted  the  theatre  of 
action.  Moral  as  well  as  literary  merit,  is  often  then  only  acknow- 
ledged when  the  possessor  is  no  more.  If  you  can  lay  your  hands 
on  Bolingbroke's  letters  on  the  use  and  study  of  history,  read  the 
second,  and  you  will  be  pleased  with  it.  We  should  endeavor  to 
profit  by  past  experience,  and  to  acquire  philosophy  from  history, 
teaching  it  by  examples.  I  cannot  help  transcribing  the  following 
lines  which  were  applied  to  Grotius  during  his  exile : 

Scd — quatenus  (hen  nefas  .') 
Virtutem  incolumem  odimus, 
Sublatam  ex  ocuHs  qucBramus  iyividi. 

You  will  let  Harry  translate  this.  'Tis  painful  to  see  a  good  man 
suffer,  for  who  would  not  rather  be  the  innocent  sufferer,  than  the 
guilty  aggressor  ?  When  the  friends  of  Socrates  lamented  that  he 
should  suffer,  being  innocent,  he  replied,  "  Would  you  then  wish 
me  to  be  guilty  ?" 

Perhaps  politicians  may  laugh  at  these  trite  remarks,  but  you 
will  know  that  if  they  have  no  other  use  or  propriety,  they  may 
occasionally  suggest  subjects  for  your  conversation  with  my  dear 
boy,  who,  I  hope,  will  learn  toleration  from  them,  or  if  he  should 
live  under  a  planet  equally  inauspicious  as  his  friends  have  done, 
that  he  may  acquire  patience  and  submission  to  his  lot.  'Tis  within 
a  man's  own  bosom  that  he  must  find  happiness,  or  he  will  find  it 
nowhere.  External  circumstances  may  increase,  but  they  can 
never  constitute  it.  I  shall  be  much  surprised  indeed,  if,  after  the 
present  ferments  subside,  (and  subside  they  must,  for  the  daily 
proofs  we  have  of  human  wretchedness  cannot  but  soften  the 
hearts  of  the  most  obdurate  towards  their  fellow-creatures,  how- 
ever mistaken,)  I  do  not  see  the  liberal  and  enlarged  principles  of 
philanthropy  come,  with  all  their  force  and  energy,  from  the  Ameri- 
can presses.  The  pulpit,  too — what  more  noble  subjects  can  it  choose 
for  discussion  ?  In  short,  the  divine,  the  moralist,  the  philosopher 
and  the  real  patriot,  must  unite  in  the  great  object  of  extinguishing 
animosity  and  restoring  harmony,  nor  ought  even  the  humblest 
individual  to  withhold  his  mite. 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  341 

We  should  not  be  deterred  hy  the  ma^rnitude  of  the  object,  or 
the  greatness  of  the  diiruully,  from  making  eflorts.  There  is 
scarce  any  being  so  humble,  who  may  not  in  some  degree  or  an- 
other, promote  the  great  cause  of  humanity.  As  it  is  my  principle 
to  draw  benefit  out  of  evil,  and  as  1  have  endeavored  to  take  a  large 
and  comprehensive  view  of  the  general  economy  of  Providence,  I 
sometimes  think  I  am  upon  the  whole  the  better  for  my  disappoint- 
ments in  life.  I  am  indeed  poor,  but  what  fhinkin(r  man,  at  my 
time  in  life,  can  believe  that  riches  are  essential  to  happiness?  I 
might  have  acquired  a  more  extensive  knowledge  of  my  profession, 
and  perhaps,  some  degree  of  reputation — but  professional  men  are 
often  merely  professional  men.  I  might  have  been  of  some  use  as 
a  member  of  society,  in  my  native  country — this  indeed  is  a  retros- 
pect that  does  not  sit  quite  easy  on  my  mind,  but  I  have  endeavored 
to  profit  by  the  maxim  transmitted  to  us  by  antiquity :  If  you  are 
deprived  of  exercising  the  duties  of  a  citizen,  exercise  those  of  a 
man  ;*  that  is,  be  a  citizen  of  the  world.  Cultivate  the  enlarged 
principles  of  general  humanity,  and  universal  benevolence  and 
philanthropy. 

Adieu,  my  dear  brother,  and  believe  me. 

Affectionately  yours, 

P.  V.  S. 

TO  HENRY  VAN  SCHAACK. 

London,  IGth  August,  1783. 
My  dear  Brother  : 

I  have  in  my  preceding  letters  exhausted  all  the  subjects  be- 
tween us  of  the  most  material  consequence.  To  them  therefore  I 
refer  you.  J\Iy  last  was  by  the  Earl  of  Effingham,  in  the  hands  of 
Doctor  Morrison,  who  carries  your  cane,  which  a  certain  friend 
of  yours  w^ould  deserve  a  little  discipline  from,  if  he  was  half  so 
faulty  as  he  has  been  represented.  I  long  very  anxiously  to  hear 
of  your  movements,  and  am  not  without  hopes  that  you  will  find 
yourself  enabled  to  go  home,  where  a  retired,  circumspect  conduct 
will,  I  hope,  procure  you  peace. 

I  wish  you  to  recall  to  mind  my  precise  situation  when  I  left 

*  Officium  civis  si  amiseris,  homixis  excrccas. 


342  THE     LIFE     OF 

Poughkeepsie,  particularly  Gov.  C.'s  certificate,  a  duplicate  of  which 
was  sent  by  me  to  the  Commissioners  of  Conspiracies.     I  think  Mr. 

S k   or  Mr.  B might  make  this,  with   the  concomitant 

circumstances,  a  ground  for  a  pardon  from  the  executive  power. 
The  Governor  told  me  I  was  no  object  of  the  act,  and  the  Commision- 
ers  assured  me  that  if  they  had  known  that  I  had  had  the  Gover- 
nor's permission,  they  would  not  have  proceeded  against  me.  They 
did,  however,  record  me  before  they  got  the  certificate,  but  as  they 
would  not  have  done  it,  if  they  had  had  it,  and  as  they  afterwards 
did  receive  it  (no  neglect  being  imputable  to  me) — quere  whether 
that  ought  not  to  be  undone,  upon  a  knowledge  of  the  case,  which 
would  710^  have  been  done,  if  it  had  been  known?  I  state  this  but 
weakly  at  present,  by  way  of  breaking  the  case,  but  I  wish  you  to  give 
me  your  sentiments,  and  those  of  my  friends.  I  would  not  have  any 
premature  attempts  made  on  my  behalf,  but  it  would  give  me  real 
pleasure,  if  I  could  return  under  an  explicit  declaration  and  a  par- 
ticular permission,  my  case  being  I  believe  singular. 
My  love  to  all  friends.     Yours  affectionately. 

P.  V.  S. 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  343 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

TO  JANE  SILVESTER. 

London f  4th  Sept.,  1783. 
My  iiEAREST  Sister  : 

My  son  Harry  having  mentioned  that  you  desired  him  to  tell 
me,  that  you  had  not  received  a  letter  from  me  since  I  left  Ameri- 
ca, I  consider  it  not  as  a  reproach  for  my  neglect,  but  as  an  invi- 
tation to  me  to  write,  which  I  most  cheerfully  sit  down  to  do.  To 
you,  my  beloved  sister,  I  could  never  be  guilty  of  inattention,  and 
all  my  friends  have  remained  in  my  warmest  affection,  without  the 
least  interruption.  Your  brother's  heart  is  the  same  it  always  was, 
and  I  believe  it  never  was  accused  of  want  of  sensibility  or  tender- 
ness, whatever  his  imperfections  may  be. 

Our  poor  mother  I     Harry  has  made  my  heart  bleed  by  w^hat 
he  tells  me  of  the  proof  she  gives  of  her  parental  fondness  for  me, 
"whenever  I  am  talked  of.     I  hope  she  remembers  no  one  circum- 
stance to  make  her  doubt  of  my  filial  duty  and    love.     Could    I 
think  she  did,  that  indeed  would  embitter  all  my  days.     You,  my 
dear  sister,  have  had  the  greatest  opportunity  of  manifesting  your 
duties  to  her ;   some  occasions  must   have  been  arduous  ones,  but 
the  remembrance  of  them  will  be  pleasing  to  you,  when  the  fond 
parent  is  no  more.     I  am  sure  you  will  contribute  every  thing  in 
your  power  to  her  comfort  and  ease,  and  let  me  too  have  the  satis- 
faction of  knowing,  that  you  have  for  me,  and  at  my  expense,  done 
something  to  this  purpose  so  near  my  heart;  devise  something  or 
another  that  w^ill  be  acceptable  to  her,  and   let  her  receive  it  as 
from  me.     You  will  oblige  me  in  proportion  as  you  can  make  it 
agreeable  to  her.     Assure  her  of  the  unabated  tenderness  of  my 
heart  towards  her,  and  let  her  not  entertain  a  moment's  anxiety  on 
my  account. 

I  have  hitherto  heard  not  many  particulars  of  you  all ;  but  I 
hope  I  shall  now  be  gratified  on  that  interesting  subject.     My 


344  THE       LIFE      OF 

nephews  and  nieces  should  indulge  me  with  an  account  of  the  situ- 
ation of  the  different  branches  of  the  family. 

I  come  now  to  an  interesting  subject  indeed — my  own  children  ! 
How  was  I  shocked  at  the  charge  of  ingratitude  for  the  kind  care 
you  and  Mr.  Silvester  and  Jane  have  taken  of  them  !  Believe  me, 
my  dear  sister,  I  am  incapable  of  such  a  blackness  of  heart,  and  I 
shall  always  retain  the  most  grateful  sentiments  for  all  their  bene- 
factors. God  know^s  it  is  not  a  voluntary  act  of  mine  to  leave 
them  in  the  care  of  others ;  and  to  vindicate  myself  against  any 
suspicion  of  that  nature,  I  am  compelled  to  enter  more  minutely 
into  my  own  situation  than  I  would,  on  account  of  your  sympa- 
thetic feelings,  have  wished.  Immediately  on  my  arrival  in  Lon- 
don, I  consulted  the  ablest  physicians  on  my  unfortunate  complaint, 
and  they  unanimously  dissuaded  me  from  an  operation,  from  the 
danger  it  might  subject  the  other  eye  to,  encouraging  me  at  the 
same  time  to  hope  that  I  might  retain  the  sight  of  that  all  my  life. 
In  the  autumn  of  1780,  however,  I  found  a  serious  attack  on  the 
best  eye,  and  within  twenty- four  hours,  I  found  my  sight  so  much 
impaired,  that  with  glasses  fitted  for  the  advanced  age  of  seventy- 
live  I  could  see  objects  only  as  I  did  before  with  the  naked  eye. 
Still,  the  advice  given  me  w^as  against  an  operation,  until  it  became 
absolutely  inevitable  by  the  total  loss  of  sight.  Judge  of  my  situ- 
ation, my  dearest  Jenny,  and  you  will  think  I  had  some  trial  for 
my  fortitude.  I  bless  God,  however,  my  spirits  did  not  fail  me  ;  I 
adjusted  all  my  concerns  as  if  I  was  going  to  leave  the  world,  I 
disposed  of  all  ray  papers  as  if  1  w^  as  never  to  see  them  more,  with 
the  most  perfect  composure. 

In  this  state  of  uncertainty  and  suspense  between  hope  and  fear, 
have  I  remained  for  three  years.  Would  my  fiiends  wish  to  see 
me  out  of  this  suspense,  by  a  trial  which  may  terminate  unfavora- 
bly ?  Is  it  not  better  to  keep  what  I  have  left,  than  to  run  the  risk 
of  losing  all  ?  True,  it  is  possible  I  may  never  be  worse,  and  could 
I  be  assured  of  it,  I  should  then  indeed  not  hesitate  a  moment  about 
returning  to  my  native  country  and  to  rid  my  friends  of  the  trouble 
they  have  with  my  children.  But  in  my  present  uncertainty,  per- 
haps before  I  had  reached  my  native  country  and  friends,  I  might 
be  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  returning  hither,  and  in  that  case, 
judge  what  would  be  my  situation  in  re-crossing  the  sea  !     It  may 


PETER     VAN     SCIIAACK.  345 

be  said  that  the  operation  minrht  be  performed  in  America,  and  it 
"was  several  times  hinteil  to  me,  on  account  oi"  the  eminence  of  an 
operator  at  New-York  ;  but  when,  after  some  dilhculty,  I  obtained 
a  history  of  the  cases  in  wliich  lie  had  performed,  1  found  no  great 
room  for  confidence  :  indeed  my  own  {)})ini()n  of  him  never  was 
very  high.  You,  my  dearest  sister,  will  feel  the  force  of  these  em- 
barrassments, between  the  dictates  of  parental  family  allection,  and 
a  prudent  attention  to  myself,  for  while  I  am  here,  I  have  my 
remedy,  if  any  there  is,  at  hand.  Still  the  former  would  have  pre- 
vailed, but  for  the  unanimous  opinion  of  my  physicians  and  friends 
to  the  contrary. 

I  do  indeed  hold  up  on  all  occasions,  my  determination  of  re- 
turning to  America,  but  it  is  always  subject  to  the  condition  of  my 
being  out  of  suspense  as  to  the  fate  of  my  eye.  Indeed,  after  all, 
I  may  go  out  without  undergoing  the  operation,  if  I  should  get 
more  confidencet  hat  I  shall  not  be  worse  than  I  now  am.  In  short, 
I  am  in  a  state  of  uncertainty,  and  must  be  governed  by  events. 
A  winter  voyage,  however,  I  cannot  think  of,  for  if  any  thing  would 
make  me  w^orse,  it  would  be  the  inquietudes,  and  the  restless  nights 
to  which  that  would  subject  me. 

I  did  not  mean  to  be  so  prolix,  but  really  the  fear  that  you 
might  think  I  had  acted  petulantly,  or  wanted  gratitude,  or  asked 
any  thing  unreasonably,  forced  me  to  this  explanation.  At  any 
rate,  my  dear  sister,  let  not  the  sins  of  the  father  be  visited  upon 
the  children. 

You  must  remember  me  to  all  my  relations  as  if  I  enumerated 
them  all — to  my  mother,  remember  me  in  the  most  dutiful  and 
most  affectionate  manner !     Heaven  preserve  you  all ! 

Your  affectionate  Brother, 

P.  V.  S. 

TO   HENRY  VAN  SCHAACK. 

London,  19th  JVovemhcr,  17S3. 
My  dear  Brother  : 

Your  letters  by  the  Diomede  and  Favorite,  I  have  received.  I 
thank  you  for  them,  as  well  as  for  the  papers.     Your  letter  of  the 

. September  merits  great  applause,  not  only  in  my  opinion, 

but  in  that  of  a  gentleman  whose  name  I  shall  not  at  present  men- 

44 


o 


46  T  11  E      L  I  F  E      0  F 


tion.  Upon  fairly  balancing  all  the  evidence  pro  and  coji,  I  find 
no  reason  to  alter  those  sentiments  of  what  will  be,  which  I  enter- 
tained early  after  the  conclusion  of  peace,  and  for  which  I  have  had 
such  severe  raps  over  the  knuckles.  The  little  essay  from  Albany, 
does  honor  to  the  author.  It  was  something  like  this  1  wished  to 
set  going  very  early.  I  suggested  one  mode,  but  it  was  probably 
thought  too  puerile  to  be  worthy  of  notice.  Men's  tempers  show 
themselves  variously — one  may  be  impatient,  vehement  and  petu- 
lant at  neglect  and  inattention,  in  short,  at  matters  which  may  be 
prevented  or  remedied,  while  he  views  with  a  cool,  philosophic 
eye,  the  general  course  of  human  events,  and  submits  to  the  admin- 
istration of  Providence  without  murmuring,  though  not  without 
sympathy  for  the  distress  which  may  fall  upon  individuals.  Upon 
these  occasions,  the  torrent  indeed  cannot  be  resisted  all  at  once, 
but  its  violence,  if  it  is  not  to  be  restrained,  may  be  in  some  mea- 
sure diverted,  and  the  most  insignificant  individual  who  is  well  dis- 
posed, may  contribute  a  mite.  God  knows  how^  fervently  I  wished 
the  happiness  of  my  native  country,  and  how^  anxious  I  was  that 
she  should  reap  the  genuine  fruits  of  peace  3  and  if  in  any  thing  I 
proposed  or  suggested,  I  was  influenced  by  romantic  ideas,  (under 
the  name  of  exalted  ones,)  and  thereby  cheapened  myself  in  the  es- 
timation of  my  friends,  at  least  I  can  say  this,  that  I  did  not  err 
through  want  of  a  serious,  dispassionate  and  candid  consideration 
of  the  subject.  It  is  easy  to  judge  of  what  ought  to  have  been  done 
when  it  is  too  late;  but  I  have  endeavored,  on  every  great  change, 
to  anticipate,  by  considering  how  it  might  be  improved  to  the  best 
advantage,  and  by  this  means  I  save  myself  the  mortification  of 
regret,  even  when  I  find  I  have  erred ;  for,  to  use  our  talents  (such 
as  they  are)  diligently  and  fairly,  is  all  we  are  accountable  for. 

After  what  I  have  said,  I  trust  I  shall  have  some  excuse  from  my 
correspondents,  for  having  abated  in  the  frequency  and  length  of 
my  letters.  No  man  likes  to  be  thought  a  visionary,  and  yet  how 
often  do  we  see  sentiments,  which  are  at  first  startled  at,  in  a 
course  of  time  become  current  and  generally  adopted  ?  When  I 
find  a  man,  who  in  the  general  thinks  and  acts  rationally,  advanc- 
ing a  proposition  to  which  I  cannot  immediately  assent,  I  own  I 
cannot  help  paying  a  respectful  deference  to  it,  and  doubting  my 
own  perception  while  it  opposes  his.     Men  are  not  distinguished 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  247 

from  one  another  so  much  by  the  degrees  of  their  abilities,  as  of 
their  candor,  and  a  freedom  from  bigotry,  and  I  own  to  you,  tliat 
I  think,  that  in  general  the  culture  is  more  to  be  blamed  than  the 
soil. 

I  am  much  hurt  at  the  neglect  of  the  S ,  which  I  am  not 

conscious  of  deserving.  I  wish  I  knew  the  cause  of  his  displea- 
sure. If  it  has  arisen  from  any  thing  that  has  happened  since  I 
left  America,  he  has  been  misinformed.  As  to  what  existed  he- 
yb?*e,  you  know  it ;  certain  political  ideas  and  opinions  about  a 
certain  character,  &c.  If  I  have  been  wrong,  I  cannot  help  it.  I 
always  judge  according  to  my  best  abilities,  such  as  they  are,  and 
I  cannot  renounce  my  reason,  or  suppress  my  sentiments,  out  of 
deference  to  any  man  in  the  world,  be  he  who  he  may.  I  will 
hold  intercourse  with  no  man,  but  upon  terms  of  perfect  equality 
and  independence.  The  prerogatives  of  age  cannot  extend  so  far 
as  to  deprive  me  of  this  right ;  and  I  claim  them  not  against  my 
juniors  or  inferiors,  nor,  I  hope,  ever  will.  Reason  and  argument 
are  the  only  weapons  to  be  used  on  these  occasions. 

Our  old  friend  Col.  B.  R.  sent  for  me  the  other  day.  He  lives 
in  a  little  box  some  miles  out  of  town,  in  the  plainest  manner  pos- 
sible. I  found  him  very  unwell :  what  a  reverse  !  But,  like  the 
ancient  temples  of  the  gods,  he  is  venerable,  even  in  ruins.  He 
is  much  noticed  by  the  neighbors ;  and  that  cheerfulness  which 
reigned  in  the  family  of  old,  still  continues  in  a  great  degree.  I 
am  happy  in  the  opportunity  of  showing  him  marks  of  attention, 
on  account  of  the  old  connection  our  family  has  had  with  him. 

I  have  been  pretty  particular  in  my  inquiries  of  your  friends 
into  your  habits  of  life,  as  well  as  David's,  that  I  might  derive  ben- 
efit to  my  own  from  the  example  of  my  elder  brothers.  'Tis  a 
common  observation,  founded  in  much  truth,  that  a  man  must  be 
his  own  physician  at  forty,  or  a  fool.  I  have  attended  to  what 
agrees  and  what  disagrees  with  me ;  and  hope  at  the  above  period 
to  escape  the  last  of  the  adage.  I  live  freely  at  dinner,  but  avoid 
suppers,  and  make  a  point  of  going  cool  to  bed,  if  I  sit  up  or  walk 
about  half  the  night  till  I  become  so.  A  regular  habit  of  body  is 
the  great  object  I  have  perfectly  attained,  by  attention  ;  such  is  the 
connection  between  soul  and  body.  (See  Mr.  Locke's  Treatise  on 
Edacation.)     A  gentle  dose  of  salts  and  manna  (half  an  ounce  of 


34S  THE     LIFE     OF 

each)  every  now  and  then,  especially  after  generous  living,  I  find 
very  useful.  Bathing  the  feet  in  lukewarm  water  at  night,  assists 
in  removing  attacks  upon  the  head,  eyes  and  ears,  by  a  revul- 
sion— washing  them  in  cold  water  in  the  morning  I  have  practised 
by  way  of  hardening  them — keeping  a  perfectly  clean  skin  assists 
perspiration.  In  short,  that  virtue  cleanliness  is  the  great  preser- 
vative against  disease  of  every  kind.  I  walk  eight  or  ten  miles 
before  dinner  with  ease,  and  expose  myself  to  all  weathers,  in  the 
day  time.  Excuse  this  desultory  account  of  myself.  Whether  it 
is  the  climate,  or  my  management  of  myself,  or  both,  I  don't  know  ; 
but  I  am  in  perfect  health  and  perfectly  free  from  blue  devils. 

Present  my  best  regards  to  David,  Mr.  Sedgwick,  and  all  our 
friends  about  you. 

I  am  your  affectionate  brother, 

P.  V.  S. 

TO  HENRY  VAN  SCHAACK. 

London^  1st  Dec,  1783. 
My  dear  Brother  : 

Our  friends  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  are  at  length  arrived,  and  I  am 
already  embarked  in  his  service.  I  trust  I  have  evinced  the  sin- 
cerity of  my  heart,  and  my  warm  gratitude  for  the  favors  he  has 
shown  you,  by  the  manner  in  which  I  have  tendered  him  my  best  offi- 
ces. The  amiable  woman  shall  experience  my  strictest  attention. 
My  time,  and  the  whole  of  my  slender  abilities  shall  be  his.  How- 
ever wrapped  up  in  my  own  concerns  I  may  be  thought  to  be,  be 
assured,  my  dear  brother,  that  no  man  existing  devotes  himself 
more  to  his  friends  than  I  do.  For  whom  am  I  employed,  often 
from  morning  to  night,  and  what  is  my  reward?  Many,  many  I 
trust  would  testify  that  I  am  not  mercenary.  My  considerations 
of  property  are  not  to  accumulate,  but  to  save.  According  to 
Swift, "  I  have  property  in  my  head,  not  in  my  heart."  This  has 
kept  me  independent  even  in  poverty.  There  might  have  been  a 
little  more  indulgence,  without  any  "  excess  of  charity." 

Your  account  of  the  scarcity  of  goods  at  New- York,  which 
would  probably  take  place  if  the  Effingham  did  not  arrive,  aston- 
ishes every  body  but  me  ; — there  too  poor  Pil-Garlic  was  hooted 
at,  for  giving  an  opinion  at  the  time  the  ship  was  about  sailing. 

Your  affectionate  brother  and  friend, 

P.  V.  S. 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  IC  .  349 

Your  observations  about  Mr.  J.'s  discriminalion  are  dictated  by 
benevolence,  but  are  founded  upon  a  perfection  in  human  nature 
which  is  merely  ideal.  Who  is  it  that  can  cast  the  first  stone  ? 
Suppose  the  event  had  been  dillerent.  To  hnd  a  race  of  beinf;rs 
free  from  passion,  we  must  travel  with  (julliver,  and  fmd  out  a 
land  of  Hounheims — but  even  they  banished.  Read  the  history  of 
this  virtuous  nation.  IIow^  often  have  the  "sons  been  oblifred  to 
blush  their  fathers  had  been  foes"  to  the  best  characters.  We 
must  distinguish  abstract  from  practical  perfection.  All  human 
excellence  is  but  relative  and  comparative.  Would  I  had  been 
able  to  explain  myself  properly  ! 

TO  HENRY  VAN  SCHAACK. 

London,  14th  Dec,  1783. 
My  dear  Brother  : 

Long  ere  this  I  hope  you  are  safely  fixed  at  Pittsfield,  and  I 
trust  that  by  this  time  the  evacuation  of  New- York  is  completed — • 
that  bone  of  contention,  that  source  of  irritation  and  animosity  re- 
moved. I  hope  all  parties  will  see  the  necessity  of  oblivion,  and 
cultivate  the  arts  of  peace.  This,  however,  must  be  a  work  of 
some  time ;  but  every  individual,  in  his  sphere,  should  contribute 
his  mite  tow^aids  it.  I  cannot  help  still  cherishing  the  hope  of 
seeing  America  a  happy  country ;  but  when  I  speak  of  happiness, 
I  mean  it  in  a  relative,  a  comparative  sense.  In  comparing  the 
situation  of  two  countries,  we  are  apt  to  look  through  different 
ends  of  the  glass.  For  my  part,  I  have  endeavored  to  form  my 
notions  with  candor  and  impartiality,  and  have  never  failed  to 
consider  both  sides  of  the  question.  Such  illiberality,  such  an  un- 
philosophic  view^  of  this  extensive  business,  even  among  men  of 
some  education,  and  who  have  been  in  the  world,  I  own  I  had  no 
conception  of  From  what  strange  principles  do  men  take  even 
the  right  side  ! 

It  is  my  constant  prayer  that  I  may  be  preserved  from  unchari- 
tableness,  and  I  bless  God  (I  hope  not  pharisaically)  that  revenge, 
envy  and  hatred  are  strangers  to  my  breast.  A  civil  war  is  an 
epitome  of  all  human  wretchedness.  The  human  heart  will  be 
shocked  w^ith  the  enormities  w^e  daily  hear  of,  but  the  philosophic 
mind   w'ill   not   be   surprised   at   them,  because  (so   all   history 


350  THE     LIFE     OF 

proves)  they  are  natural,  though  sad  concomitants  of  this  dreadful 
visitation.  The  effects  of  an  earthquake  or  a  pestilence,  do  not 
more  necessarily  flow  from  their  respective  causes.  If  I  could  have 
expected  such  a  magnanimous  conduct,  as  some  people  stigmatize 
the  Americans  for  being  worse  than  other  nations  in  not  pursuing, 
if  I  could  in  short  suppose  that  they  would  have  acted  from  the 
pure  dictates  of  reason  without  any  mixture  of  passion,  I  should 
blush  to  have  ever  been  in  opposition  to  them.  They  would  then 
have  been  what  no  other  nation  under  heaven  ever  was.  God 
forbid  I  should  ever  extenuate  one  instance  of  cruelty  or  injustice, 
but  let  us  not  draw  inferences  from  them,  beyond  what  they  will 
fairly  warrant.  The  imperfections  of  man  accompany  him  in 
every  situation  he  happens  to  be  placed  in.  Let  it  be  our  endeavor 
to  lessen,  according  to  oui'  several  situations,  the  aggregate  of 
human  misery,  and  let  us  not  catch  that  spirit  of  rancor  which  we 
condemn  in  others.  The  malignity  of  men  can  go  but  to  a  certain 
degree,  and  no  farther,  and  let  us  rely  on  Providence  with  respect 
to  its  bounds. 

You  may  perhaps  think  this  theoretic,  abstract  reasoning,  and 
not  consonant  to  that  cast  of  temper  you  may  have  supposed  me  to 
possess,  and  therefore  rather  a  momentary  effusion  of  the  heart, 
than  a  steady  principle  of  conduct  and  character.  If  this  is  your 
idea,  be  assured  you  do  not  know  me.  The  irregularities  of  my 
disposition  extend  only  to  those  occurrences  of  life,  where  I  think 
inconveniences  might  have  been  prevented  by  common  attention 
and  ordinary  prudence,  and  do  not  break  out  in  murmurs  against 
the  general  course  of  human  affairs,  and  the  general  economy  and 
administration  of  Providence.  In  the  first  case,  we  may  reason, 
object,  and  even  censure ;  in  the  other,  "  to  reason  right,  is  to 
submit.''^ 

You  may  think  that  I  have  labored  these  points,  and  dealt  too 
much  in  egotism,  but  I  wish  you  to  know  me  such  as  I  am,  for  I 
would  neither  have  your  good  or  bad  0})inion  upon  any  other 
ground.  I  shall  always  be  glad  to  have  your  reasonings,  for  by 
such  a  friendly  and  brotherly  intercourse,  we  may  mutually  benefit 
each  other.  This  state  of  existence  is  a  transitory  one  ;  neverthe- 
less our  obligations  to  society  are  great  and  extensive,  and  par- 
ticularly so  in  the  arduous  scenes  we  have  been  and  are  engaged 


PETER      VAN      SCIIAACK.  351 

in.  To  acquire  just  principles,  and  a  r\cr]\t  manner  of  lliinkinLS 
should  be  our  object,  ibr  we  shall  yet  have  many  occasions  lor 
self-examination,  whether  we  are  guided  by  reason,  or  hunied 
away  by  the  impulse  of  passion.  1  believe  I  was  never  much 
actuated  by  party  or  personal  enmity,  but  if  I  ever  have  been,  these 
passions  are  now  totally  at  an  end,  or  swallowed  up  in  the  great 
object  of  the  happiness  of  a  country,  which  (not  to  mention  the 
great  and  comprehensive  principles  of  philanthropy  and  benevo- 
lence) contains  ray  nearest  and  dearest  connections.  Let  me  be- 
seech you  to  seek  contentment  in  your  present  situation,  without 
any  retrospect  to  the  past,  or  any  desire  to  change.  It  is  wisdom 
rather  to  bear  the  ills  you  have,  than  fly  to  others  you  know  not  of. 
To  make  the  best  of  our  actual  situation  and  present  circumstances, 
instead  of  repining  at  what  we  have  lost,  or  hankering  after  what 
we  cannot  attain,  will  be  our  plan.  Life,  altogether,  is  a  strange 
business.  I  will  endeavor  to  make  the  best  of  it,  and  strive  to 
lessen,  not  to  multiply  its  evils. 

You  will  not  fail  to  remember  me  in  the  most  affectionate  man- 
ner to  our  amiable  friend  Mr.  S.  to  whom  I  wrote  by  Coupar.  The 
Athenians  dedicated  a  temple  to  clemency.  If  such  a  one  should 
be  built  in  America,  I  think  our  friend  should  be  the  high  priest.* 


Mitis  posuit  CLEMENT  [A  scdcm, 

Et  viiseri  fecere  sacram 


Hue  victi  bellis,  scelerumqiie  crrorc  noccntcs, 
Conveniunt,  paccmque  rogantA 

Let  Harry  and  Francis  have  this  scrap.     Heaven  bless  you  all ! 

Yours  most  warmly, 
P.  V.  S. 

TO   HENRY  VAN  SCHAACK. 

London,   31st  December,  17S3. 
Mv  DEAR  Brother  : 

I  write  this  via  Phil  a.,  to  acquaint  you  with  the  safe  arrival  of 
your  papers  by  Col.  L.     I  long  to  hear  from  you  after  your  arrival 

*  The  friend  alluded  to  is  Theodore  Sedgwick. 

i  I  wish  you  would  contrive  to  let  the  boys  read  Shakspeare's  ]\fea=ure 
for  JNIeasure,  and  the  ^Merchant  of  Venice,  for  the  sake  of  some  passages, 
breathing  this  sort  of  spirit. — Excuse  these  puerilities  if  you  think  them  so. 
Let  the  boys'  heads  be  as  strong  as  they  please,  but  let  their  hearts  be  soft. 


352  THE      LIFE      OF 

at  your  place  of  abode.  These  people  will  immortalize  themselves 
by  a  liberal  conduct.  I  hope  I  shall  have  many  materials  to  ex- 
patiate upon,  in  support  of  ideas  I  have  in  all  companies  advanced, 
in  favor  of  their  national  character.  JMuch  obloquy  have  I  incurred 
by  it.  The  peaceable,  orderly  manner  in  which  possession  was 
taken  of  New-York,  has  fulfilled  my  predictions  j  but  I  was  Cas- 
sandra. 

I  shall  really  not  know"  what  to  do  with  the  remittances.  All 
should  not  be  embarked  in  one  bottom.  The  lot  on  the  wharf,  in  a 
city  that  bids  fair  to  be  a  distinguished  one  in  the  world,  in  which 
if  /  do  not,  some  of  the  children  will  probably  live,  was  what  I 
wished.  1  have  written  to  Mr.  N.  C.  to  waive  the  Durchase,  and 
between  you  and  me  I  would  give  him  any  reasonable  sum  to  do 
it.  I  cannot  help  my  manner  of  thinking,  but  that  must  be  my 
guide,  erroneous  as  it  may  be.  If  I  am  wrong,  and  those  right,  who 
have  been  so  eager  to  remit  all  they  could  to  this  country,  they  may 
congratulate  themselves  on  their  sagacity,  but  for  my  part,  I  would 
rather  my  little  property  was  at  New-York  than  here.  Amazing 
quantities  of  dollars  have  been  sent  hitherto  from  Yew-York,  and  I 
am  told  large  sums  from  Boston  also  ! 

Your  strictures  upon 's  letter  are  natural  enough ;  and  the 

last  upon  "  not  many,^^  is  just — the  other  passage  I  think  is  not  al- 
together exceptionable.  Before  we  condemn  a  man's  conduct  or 
sentiments  in  an  arduous  situation,  we  must  make  it  our  own.  We 
must  not  try  other  people  by  those  rules  of  perfection  we  fall  so 
much  short  of  ourselves.  You  know  my  sentiments  on  these  sub- 
jects so  fully,  that  I  need  not  explain.  I  have  been  a  little  mortified  by 
being  taxed  by  some  of  your  best  friends,  with  having  held  very  vision- 
ary doctrines.  In  epistolary  correspondences,  much  is  left  to  the 
person  written  to.  A  man  cannot  always  express  all  the  qualifica- 
tions, explanations,  restrictions,  illustrations,  &c.,  which,  were  he 
to  address  the  public,  he  would  be  bound  to  do.  His  friend  will 
supply  these  if  he  can ;  if  he  cannot,  he  will  suppress  the  whole. 
Language  at  best  has  its  difficulties,  as  the  medium  to  convey  ideas 
upon  delicate  subjects.  People  who  have  been  in  the  habits  of 
familiar  intercourse,  both  in  writing  and  speaking,  know  each  other's 
style.  The  same  expressions  to  them  or  to  strangers,  will  receive 
very  different  constructions.     In  a  series  of  letters  for  a  length  of 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  353 

time,  parts  are  not  to  be  taken  in  a  detacLcd  manner,  but  the 
whole  in  connection.  For  some  such  reasons  I  have  avoitled  writ- 
injT  to  many  vakiable  friends.  All  do  not  understand  the  force  of 
languaf^e.  To  my  brothers,  I  thouj^ht  I  could  confide  my  inmost 
thoughts.  They  would  know  what  might  be  mentioned,  and  what 
ought  to  be  suppressed.  In  both  the  one  and  the  other  my  reputation 
would  be  consulted. 

Your  very  tender  mention  of  my  dear  boy,  has  greatly  affected 
my  sensibility.  By  that  you  do  me  more  essential  services  than  by 
sending  me  guineas.     JMy  alfectionate  regard  to  all  friends. 

Yours  affectionately,  P.  V.  S. 

TO  HENRY  VAN   SCHAACK. 

London,  30fh  December,  1783. 
My  dear  Brother  : 

As  I  shall  be  uncommonly  engaged,  in  consequence  of  the  ar- 
rivals from  New-York,  I  will  immediately  begin  a  letter  to  you  in 
my  old-fashioned  way,  and  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letters 
by  Dr.  J.  and  Col.  L.  with  a  bundle  of  papers. 

What  you  say  of  Mrs.  R.,  &c.,  was  a  thunder-clap  to  me.  But 
1  will  not  re(Tret  what  I  have  done,  embarked  as  I  have  been,  with 
my  usual  zeal  for  my  friends,  in  his  cause.  I  paid  a  tribute  to  old 
remembrances  and  former  friendships.  I  have  gratified  feelings 
not  uno-enerous.  I  envy  not  the  feelings,  or  the  want  of  feeUng,  of 
those  who  can  receive  favors  they  do  not  merit.  We  owe  obliga- 
tions to  society,  as  such,  independent  of  personal  considerations. 
It  is  not  sufficient,  that  w^e  refuse  to  do  acts  of  kindness  in  our  sphere 
to  individuals,  because  they  have  not  done  such  to  us.  If  gratitude 
and  retribution  were  to  be  our  only  motives  to  acts  of  beneficence, 
what  would  become  of  the  amiable  virtues  of  benevolence  and  phi- 
lanthropy ?  Who  would  be  the^r^^  mover  ?  "  On  mutual  wants 
build  mutual  happiness,"  is  the  essence  of  society.  I  dare  say  many 
persons  have  been  kind  to  my  children  and  connections,  to  whom 
I  shall  never  be  able  to  repay  their  favors.  I  have,  indeed,  like 
you,  seen  the  deformed  parts  of  human  nature,  but  these  instances 
have  rather  melted  my  heart  with  pity,  (for  are  they  not  our  fellow 
creatures  ?)  than  hardened  it  with  misanthropy.  I  can  hate  the  vice 
while  I  commiserate  the  agent.    What  we  call  jyrosperous,  we  see 

45 


354  THE      LIFE     OF 

villains  every  day ;  but  we  know  not  the  tax  they  pay  for  their 
prosperity.     Well  says  the  admirable  poet : 

*•  Alas  !  not  dazzled  with  their  noontide  ray, 
Compute  the  morn  and  evening  to  the  day," 

How  I  long  to  be  with  you.  Little  jarrings  I  expect  could  not 
be  avoided,  but  1  trust  they  would  only  serve  to  make  the  harmony 
more  complete.  If  my  letters  appear  unimportant,  you  will  at 
least  excuse  them,  when  you  consider  that  they  amuse,  soothe  or 
disburthen  my  mind,  as  they  supply  the  place  of  a  personal  and 
more  endearing  intercourse.  I  am  often  pensive,  sometimes  un- 
happy, frequently  vexed,  but  seldom,  if  ever,  gloomy.  Of  the 
aggregate  of  human  misery,  I  think  (and  I  bless  God  for  it)  I  have 
not  an  undue  share.     Heaven  bless  you  all. 

Yours  ever,  P.  V.  S. 

FROM  HENRY  VAN  SCHAACK. 

Richmond,  Jan.  10th,  1784. 
My  dear  Brother  : 

I  wrote  you  soon  after  I  arrived  at  G.  Barrington.  The  day 
following  David  and  I  had  our  trial  before  two  justices,  upon  the 
exclusion  acts,  and  I  am  happy  to  inform  you,  that  it  was  judged 
w- e  did  not  come  within  the  description  of  thut  law,  whereupon  wx 
took  an  oath  of  fidelity  to  this  Commonwealth.  As  my  business 
lays  here,  I  removed  immediately  up  from  the  lower  part  of  the 
county.  As  soon  as  I  came,  the  people  of  all  ranks,  with  very 
few  exceptions,  flocked  to  me,  and  I  can  with  truth  say.  that  I  am 
now  much  happier  than  1  have  been  since  the  year  1776,  All  is 
peace.  Decency,  order  and  sobriety,  seem  to  prevail  as  much  as 
if  there  had  been  no  civil  war.  I  never  in  my  life  saw  any  people 
come  so  nearly  to  the  morality  of  Swift's  Hounheims  as  my  pre- 
sent townsmen.  Fortunately  for  me,  that  my  character  as  a 
trader,  and  my  reputation  as  a  magistrate,  among  them,  w^as  uni- 
versally well  spoken  of,  and  when  contrasted  with  the  new  men 
at  Kinderhook,  it  gives  me  more  weight  and  consequence,  and  this 
you  will  be  the  more  surprised  at,  when  I  tell  you  that  the  greater 
number  of  the  inhabitants  owed  me  before  the  war,  and  their  ac- 
counts stood  open  when  1  came  here,  which  I  am  now  daily  clo- 
sing, and  those  who  owe  me  allow  interest  as  cheerfully  as  if  my 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  355 

demands  were  in  Londs  and  notes.  We  have  no  liouse-breakinnr, 
robberies,  cursing,  swearin^;,  tavern-haunting,  or  scarce  a  scene  of 
immorality. 

I  am  entreated  by  every  town  wliere  I  am  acquainted  in  this 
county,  to  take  up  my  residence  and  engage  in  trade.  Was  I 
about  thirty  years  old,  I  know  of  no  fairer  prospect  to  accumulate 
wealth,  either  in  the  wholesale  or  retailing  way.  But  as  I  need 
not  involve  myself  again,  having  got  pretty  well  through  my  debts, 
I  believe  I  shall  not  in  a  great  hurry  be  indebted  in  large  sums  for 
the  future.  Besides,  my  affairs  stand  much  better  than  I  feared 
they  would  when  I  left  New-York.  The  patrimonial  estate,  too, 
wears  a  more  flattering  aspect  than  I  had  reason  to  believe.  Be 
assured,  I  shall  separate  the  tares  from  the  corn,  and  take  care  of 
the  latter  for  you.  I  have  put  out  two  hundred  pounds  lawful  of 
your  children's  money,  to  the  town  of  Stockbridge,  the  committee 
consisting  of  Timothy  Edwards,  J.  Woodbridge  and  Elijah  Brown, 
Esquires.  The  rest  of  the  money  I  shall  do  with,  after  a  little  in- 
quiry, as  shall  seem  most  beneficial  to  the  children  and  you,  for  I 
can  get  the  best  security  here  for  money,  and  that  so  as  to  receive 
the  interest  punctually.  These  considerations  will  hinder  me  from 
remitting  any  more  of  the  children's  money  to  England,  especially 
as  law,  order,  and  good  government  now  universally  prevail. 

This  Commonwealth  has  to  boast,  \Vhat  perhaps  no  people  on 
earth  could  ever  say  before,  and  which  is,  that  they  have  been  the 
prop  of  the  confederacy  in  carrying  on  the  war,  and  after  a  strug- 
gle of  seven  years,  they  have  established  a  good  government,  and 
never  executed  a  single  man  for  his  political  principles.  When 
this  fact  is  handed  down  to  posterity,  by  the  faithful  pages  of  his- 
tory, ages  hence  will  rank  the  Massachusetts  among  the  first  people 
in  the  worJd.  This  is  a  theme  I  could  be  copious  on,  but  business 
forbids  it.  Your  affectionate  brother, 

Henry  Van  Schaack. 

TO  HENRY  VAN  SCHAACK. 

London,  27th  May,  1784. 
My  dear  Brother: 

I  have  already  written  you  a  very  long  letter  by  Coupar,  but  as 
my  excursion  into  the  country  is  put  off  for  the  present,  I  will  give 
you  a  few  paragraphs  more. 


356  THE     LIFE     OF 

The  people  in  the  State  of  New-York  are  much  censured  for 
their  rigor,  while  the  other  States  are  almost  every  one  relaxing. 
This  is  certainly  bad  policy.  As  a  State,  there  are  many  jealous 
eyes  fixed  upon  them — they  need  not  increase  the  number  of  their 
enemies.  I  have  almost  come  to  a  determination  to  spend  my 
days  in  the  Massachusetts  commonwealth,  of  the  order  and  good 
government  of  which  you  give  me  so  very  pleasing  an  account. 
Our  family  were  always  upon  the  best  terms  with  the  people  of 
that  State,  and  during  my  exile,  I  own  to  you  my  affections  to  them 
were  much  strengthened.  To  know  the  excellence  of  their  police, 
and  their  virtue  as  a  people,  you  should  have  been  in  Europe ;  the 
comparison  would  strike  you  very  forcibly.  Alas !  you  can  have 
no  conception  of  the  state  of  things  in  the  Old  World. 

I  am  much  importuned  to  go  to  the  new  settlements  in  Nova 
Scotia,  &c.,  and  I  have  no  doubt  but  I  could  get  some  appointment 
over  and  above  the  flattering  prospects  which  are  held  up  to  me 
in  the  line  of  my  profession.  For  a  moment  1  am  captivated  with 
these  suggestions,  but  my  heart  still  turns  to  my  friends  and  con- 
nections. Wealth  I  have  really  no  desire  of  possessing,  nor  will  I 
ever  resume  my  profession,  unless  I  should  again  form  a  domestic 
connection.  Upon  that  subject  I  am  quite  free,  and  mean  to  remain 
so  till  I  get  back  to  my  native  countiy,  or  am  settled  elsewhere. 
That  I  have  sometimes  had  my  sensibility  awakened,  you  will 
easily  imagine  ;  but  nothing  serious  as  you  seem  to  have  supposed. 
Tell  my  friend  S.  to  look  out  for  me. 

Remember  me  affectionately  to  all  my  friends,  to  Jane  particu- 
larly.        Your  affectionate  brother  and  friend, 

P.    V.     SCHAACK. 

I  am  now  studying  the  constitution  of  your  commonwealth,  and 
shall  be  glad  occasionally  to  have  your  remarks  upon  the  execution 
of  this  fine  piece  of  political  mechanism,  and  the  courts  of  justice, 
and  the  administration  of  the  laws. 

TO  THE  SAME. 

London,  8th  June,  1784. 
My  dear  Brother  : 

I  was  made  very  happy  with  your  letter  by  the  packet,  which 
I  shall  answer  in  the  sequel. 

You  have  not  made  me  a  convert,  by  your  arguments  about  the 


PETER      VAN     SCIIAACK.  357 

method  of  dealing  with  some  people.  I  must  persist  in  my  own 
system,  until  I  find  that  1  shall  better  promote  my  happiness  by 
altering  it.  You  say,  "  pity  it  is  that  I  am  so  far  advanced  in  life, 
that  I  have  not  a  reasonable  prospect  of  being  benefited,"  &,c. 
Excuse  me,  but  this  is  an  un})hilosophic  reflection.  You  have  no 
reason  to  complain  of  your  natural  or  acquired  endowments ;  you 
have  your  full  share.  Would  you  wish  for  a  still  greater  pre- 
eminence over  many  of  your  fellow-creatures,  or  do  you  wish  that 
they  should  be  advanced  in  the  same  proportion  with  yourself?  Is 
not  the  first  a  little  selfish,  and  as  to  the  last,  does  it  not  defeat  the 
very  purpose  of  your  wish  by  leaving  the  relative  proportion,  or 
rather  disproportion,  the  same  ?  Besides,  the  more  one  knows,  the 
more  does  he  perceive  the  follies  of  his  fellow-beings,  and  the 
more  is  he  shocked  with  them. 

"Painful  pre-eminence!  yourself  to  view 
Above  life's  weakness  and  its  comforts  too  !" 

I  find  I  am  sliding  into  Pope's  system  of  optimism,  which,  however, 
in  fact  is  the  doctrine  of  my  mind,  and  the  result  of  my  reasoning 
and  experience.  The  Essay  on  Man  has  its  exceptionable  parts, 
but  it  is  a  noble  performance.  By  the  way,  I  could  wish  you  to 
select  some  of  its  beauties,  and  occasionally  point  them  out  to  your 
namesake ;  a  few  lines  at  a  time  properly  explained,  would  give 
him  a  relish  for  those  fine  strokes  with  which  some  of  our  poets 
abound.  I  suppose  you  are  too  deeply  involved  in  business  to  read 
much ;  but  sometimes  recurring  to  those  performances  from  which 
in  earlier  life  you  derived  pleasure,  will  renew  the  pleasing  effect. 
You  was  an  admirer  of  Shakspeare.  I  wish  Harry  may  be  so, 
though  I  own  I  rather  admire  him  in  parts,  than  in  the  whole ;  his 
gold  is  mixed  with  much  dross,  but  then  it  is  of  the  finest  standard. 
I  have  not  seen  so  much  of  H —  as  I  wished.  This  town  is  so 
very  extensive,  and  my  acquaintances  so  numerous  and  at  such 
great  distances  from  me,  that  I  cannot  keep  up  a  regular  course  of 
visiting,  especially  as  I  spend  great  part  of  my  mornings  at  home, 
and  do  not  go  out  like  some  people  and  saunter  away  from  break- 
fast time  till  dinner.  Besides,  I  have  acquaintances  almost  in  every 
direction  from  the  metropolis  for  twelve  miles  around  it,  whom,  in 
this  fine  season,  it  is  conducive  to  health,  as  well  as  amusement,  to 


358  THE     LIFE     OF 

visit.  Some  of  my  friends  may  think  me  remiss  in  the  article  of 
visiting,  but  none  of  them  I  trust  will  charge  me  with  neglect  when 
business  enabled  me  to  do  them  service. 

As  I  occasionally  mention  our  country-folks  of  merit,  let  me  do 
justice  to  Mrs.  Church,  General  Schuyler's  daughter,  an  elegant, 
amiable  woman.  I  waited  upon  her  as  my  countrywoman,  and 
left  a  card,  after  which  I  met  her  in  a  little  party,  when  she  told 
me  Mr.  C.  would  have  returned  my  visit  if  he  had  known  my 
address.  Since  that,  I  have  spent  an  evening,  and  am  to  dine 
with  her  to-morrow,  and  in  the  evening  shall  be  one  of  a  large 
party  to  Vauxhali.  I  was  much  pleased,  indeed,  with  the  polite, 
easy  and  friendly  reception  I  met  with  from  this  lady,  and  the  more 
so  from  the  prejudices  I  imagined  she  might  have  taken  up  against 
me.  The  mind  that  can  overcome  prejudices  must  have  merit 
For  my  part,  I  declare  I  have  enmity  to  no  human  being  ;  I  will 
not  disturb  the  tranquillity  of  my  heart  or  its  enjoyments,  by  any 
of  the  malignant  passions.  Perfect  or  unmixed  there  is  no  charac- 
ter, and  I  will  rather  find  out  the  favorable,  than  the  unfavorable 
traits ;  I  trust,  however,  I  know  where  to  bestow  my  esteem,  while 
I  give  my  good  will  to  all.  This  little  chit-chat,  I  hope,  will  not 
be  tiresome  to  you ;  I  am  happy  that  the  time  is  arrived  when  w^e 
can  substitute  it  for  the  more  important,  though  more  dreadful 
events  of  war  and  contention. 

Adieu.  My  affectionate  remembrance  to  my  mother,  and  all 
my  brothers  and  sisters  as  if  named.     Yours  sincerely, 

P.  V.  S. 

TO  THE  SAME. 

London,  30th  June,  1784. 
My  dear  Brother  : 

I  have  received  your  several  letters  down  to  the  17th  May. 
I  shall  not,  I  believe,  be  able  to  do  any  thing  with  your  memoran- 
dum. The  idea  here  is  that  America  is  overstocked  with  goods, 
for  which  she  never  will  be  able  to  pay.  It  is  supposed  to  be  a 
land  of  misery,  inhabited  by  beggars  without  law  or  government ; 

and  because  I  will  not  believe  this,  and  all  the  d d  execrable 

nonsense  which  has  come  from  New-York  for  these  five  years  past, 
I  am  abused  as  an  apostate.     We  have  very  direct  intelligence 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  359 

that  New-York  is  depopulated,  that  you  walk  the  streets  for  hours 
without  meeting  a  living  creature,  except  now  and  then  a  half- 
starved  poor  devil,  that  nobody  ever  saw  before,  and  who,  like  a 
mushroom,  has  popped  out  of  the  dunghill  of  11 — 1 — n.  In  this 
country,  all  is  wealth  and  happiness  ! 

Your  observations  upon  the  propensity  to  the  plaintive  and 
pathetic  in  our  family,  is  I  believe  wx-ll  founded,  nor  does  it  lessen 
them  in  my  opinion  on  that  score.  People  of  sensibility  cannot 
bear  inattentions.  Reverse  the  picture.  Suppose  them  insensible 
of  neglects  and  slights,  and  what  good  is  to  be  expected  from 
them  ?  My  not  mentioning  my  friends  by  name  is  easily  accounted 
for,  and  I  have  reasoned  upon  the  subject  to  Mrs.  Silvester,  to  my 
own  conviction,  and  that,  I  hope,  of  others. 

Remember  me  aflectionately  to  my  mother  and  all  my  rela- 
tions, particularly  to  your  wifo,  whom  I  love  with  the  affection  of 
a  brother.  Yours  sincerely,  P.  V.  S. 

FROM   FRANCIS  SILVESTER. 

Kinder/look,  Uth  May,  1784. 

HcNOEED  SlK  : 

I  was  made  particularly  happy  on  the  receipt  of  your  letter, 
and  more  so  as  it  was  the  first  1  ever  received  from  you. 

How  happens  it  that  1  always  shed  tears  when  1  read  your 
letters  ?  Can  it  proceed  from  the  peculiar  sensibility  1  feel  in 
perusing  them,  or  from  your  pathetic  manner  of  expression  ?  I 
cannot  tell  which. 

I  hope  I  may  always  continue  to  merit  your  esteem,  but  what-  v;^ 
ever  may  be  my  fortune  that  way,  I  shall  endeavor  to.  Your 
advice  is  very  salutary,  and  it  shall  not  be  wanting  in  me  to  put  it 
into  practice.  The  information  you  received  about  the  friendship 
and  harmony  in  which  Harry  and  myself  live,  is  truth  pure  and 
unadulterated  ;  our  friendship  is  mutual.  Your  candor,  sir,  is  equal 
to  your  merit,  and  demands  my  warmest  thanks. 

Uncle  David  and  uncle  Harry  are  returned  from  B m. 

Universal  marks  of  joy  were  manifested  on  the  occasion.  1  hope 
your  return  will  not  be  long  hence.  My  grandmamma  seems  to 
wish  for  almost  nothing  else  but  to  see  you.  I  am  sensible  you 
are  touched  to  the  heart,  when  the  least  mention  is  made  of  your 


360  THE     LIFE     OF 

mother  ;  every  letter  that  you  have  written  proves  the  truth  of  this 
assertion  ;  and  whenever  you  are  spoken  of  she  sheds  a  tear.  Little 
Cornelius  is  her  favorite ;  she  convinces  him  of  her  affection  by 
giving  him  a  small  present,  as  Indian  sugar,  cookies,  &c. ;  and  if 
she  has  nothing  else,  she  gives  him  a  kiss — ^'  oscula  lihavit.^^  The 
same  love  she  shows  to  little  Betsey,  though  not  in  so  great  a 
degree  ;  Betsey  wants  not  for  friends.     They  are  all  well. 

Harry  has  received  his  gun  and  watch.  You  say  in  his  letter, 
"  he  must  not  show  the  least  signs  of  vanity."  I  can  assure  you, 
with  a  great  deal  of  pleasure,  that  he  is  extremely  modest  with  it, 
rather  too  much  so. 

All  our  friends  are  well,  and  join  in  love  and  affection  to  you. 
May  the  blessings  of  Heaven  be  plentifully  poured  on  your  head; 
and  peace  be  your  portion  in  this  life,  and  endless  felicity  in  that 
to  come ;  is  the  sincere  wish  and  ardent  prayer  of,  sir, 
Your  dutiful  and  affectionate  nephew, 

Francis  Silvester. 

TO  FRANCIS  SILVESTER. 

London,  17th  August,  1784. 
My  dear  Francis  : 

I  was  afraid  I  should  not  have  been  able  to  write  to  you  by 
this  ship,  as  I  am  just  going  out  of  town  for  a  few  weeks ;  but  your 
last  letter  is  so  good  a  one,  that  I  cannot  resist  the  pleasure  of 
telling  you,  how  much  I  was  pleased  with  it.  Praise  to  an  ingen- 
uous mind,  is  an  incentive  to  good  actions,  and  to  a  perseverance 
in  the  line  of  meritorious  conduct ;  and  such  I  am  confident  will 
be  its  effects  upon  you.  Consult  your  own  heart,  my  dear  Francis, 
and  you  will  find  such  a  pleasure  resulting  from  the  practice  of 
virtue,  and  the  improvement  of  your  mind  to  that  end,  that  I  am 
confident  you  will  never  deviate  from  the  principles  you  have  hith- 
erto pursued.  It  is  of  the  studies  which  contribute  to  these  noble 
purposes,  that  Tully  says,  hcec  studia  adolescentiam  alunt,  senectu- 
tem  deledant — you  know  the  rest,  and  can  fill  up  this  blank. 

I  shall  hope  to  hear  from  you  as  often  as  you  have  leisure,  and 
the  more  circumstantial  you  are,  in  your  account  of  the  course  of 
your  studies,  the  more  acceptable  will  your  letters  be.     Let  me 


PETER     VAN     S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  3G 1 

recommend  attention  to  you,  and  llint  W'ill  enable  you  at  once  to 
profit  by  your  studies,  and  to  render  a  satisfactory  aceount  of  tliciii 
to  others.  Conversation  \vilh  your  companions,  and  comparin^^ 
your  observations  with  theirs  upon  what  you  have  been  reading, 
will  greatly  strengthen  your  memory.  You  should  never  read  a 
book,  without  beino:  able  to  extract  some  usetul  remarks  out  of  it. 
If  it  shoukl  be  so  barren  as  to  contain  none  such,  then  you  should 
make  strictures  and  criticisms  upon  it.  I  am  sorry  there  are  any 
books  of  the  last  description,  but  it  is  in  our  day  as  it  was  in  Ho- 
race's; scribimus  docti,  indoctique.  Every  Saturday,  you  should 
take  a  retrospect  to  what  you  have  been  doing  in  the  course  of  the 
week,  and  reflect  how  much  you  have  added  to  the  stock  of  your 
knowledge,  since  Monday  morning.  When  any  good  observations 
occur  to  yoUj  or  if  you  hear  any  from  your  companions,  commit 
them  to  paper ;  so  with  regard  to  any  doubts  or  difficulties,  which 
may  arise  in  the  course  of  your  reading  or  reflection.  Be  very 
free  in  stating  them  to  me,  or  any  other  of  your  friends.  What 
is  your  opinion  of  the  conduct  of  the  first  Brutus,  in  passing  sen- 
tence upon  his  own  children,  and  of  the  other,  in  putting  Ca:sar  to 
death  ? 

I  was  very  much  pleased  with  your  pretty  quotation  of  the 
oscula  lihavit  of  Virgil,  as  that  and  other  circumstances  lead  me  to 
think  you  are  fond  of  that  sweet,  admirable  poet.  You  are  doubt- 
less charmed  with  the  lines  on  Marcellus,  in  the  sixth  book,  and 
you  must  read  the  notes  to  explain  the  occasion  of  them.  The 
story  of  Nysus  and  Euryalus,  I  dare  say  engaged  your  attention 
and  sympathy.  You  will  be  so  kind  as  to  make  an  apology  for 
my  not  writing  to  your  sister,  Peter  Van  Alen,  and  your  cousin 
Polly  V.  S.,  to  whom  I  am  under  obligations  for  their  obliging  let- 
ters, which  must  from  necessity  remain  unanswered  for  the  pre- 
sent. Remember  me  in  the  most  dutiful  manner  to  your  grand- 
mamma. 

I  send  a  small  globe  for  the  use  of  your  cousin  Harry  and  your- 
self, if  you  are  together,  otherwise  I  W'ill  send  another,  with  any 
books  or  mathematical  apparatus  which  you  will  point  out. 
I  am^  my  dear  Francis, 

Your  affectionate  uncle, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 
46 


362  THE      LIFE      OF 


TO  HENRY  VAN  SCHAACK. 

London,  10th  July,  1784. 
My  dear  Brother  : 

By  Mr.  Kemble,  ^vho  sailed  from  the  Downs  the  6lh,  in  the 
Resolution,  I  have  written  you  in  answer  to  your  favors  down  to 

the May.     Captain  Stout,  by  whom  your  letters  came,  had  a 

passage  of  only  twenty  days  to  Portsmouth,  as  the  packet  had  of 
nineteen  to  Falmouth. 

I  took  an  early  opportunity  after  the  peace,  to  hint  that  my 
peculiar  situation,  I  thought,  if  properly  considered,  would  entitle 
me  to  the  interposition  of  government  in  our  State,  to  get  me  ex- 
empted from  the  penalties  of  the  act;  but  you  have  never  taken 
any  notice  of  this  matter  in  any  of  your  letters,  further  than  saying 
that  you  ivould  speak  to  some  of  my  friends.  I  hear  Governor  C. 
says  there  is  no  impediment  to  my  return,  as  he  exchanged  me  as 
a  British  prisoner;  but  you  will  find  by  the  act,  that  as  the  Com- 
missioners have  recorded  me  with  the  rest,  the  executive  power 
could  not  free  me  from  the  penalties  consequential  to  that  measure, 
as  that  would  be  exercising  a  dispensing  power  in  the  face  of  a 
sentence  founded  on  a  legislative  act.  You  will  recollect  what 
passed  between  me  and  the  Commissioners,  who,  I  should  think, 
\vould  do  me  justice  on  the  occasion.  I  think  my  case,  under  all 
its  circumstances,  aiiords  an  opportunity  of  doing  something  hand- 
some in  the  manner  of  my  recall — it  ought  not  to  be  blended  with 
others.  It  does  not  become  me  to  suggest  particulars,  but  if  my 
friends  are  as  attentive  to  me  as  I  should  be  to  them,  it  will  be  un- 
necessary to  say  any  thing  more  upon  the  subject. 

You  should  be  pretty  early  with  all  your  memorandums,  that  I 
may  have  time  to  fill  them  in  the  spring.  I  never  had  a  more 
firm  determination  on  any  subject,  than  to  go  over  next  May ;  I 
believe  in  the  packet.  I  trust  Providence  will  spare  my  life,  to 
enable  me  once  more  to  embrace  my  dear  friends  at  Kinderhook. 
My  mother,  I  have  my  fears  about.     God  bless  you  all ! 

Yours  affectionately, 

P.  V.  S. 


P  K  T  K  R      VAN      S  C  n  A  A  C  K  .  363 


TO  PETER  SILVESTER. 

London,  li)lk  August,  1784. 
Mv  DEAR  Sir  : 

1  have  lately  written  to  you,  but  recollect  that  I  took  no  notice 
of  something  you  say  of  a  pair  of  globes.  The  misfortune  is,  that 
I  am  now  on  the  eve  of  departing  on  a  journey  to  Yorkshire,  and 
your  letters  with  my  other  papers  are  packed  up,  so  that  I  cannot 
recur  to  what  you  said  upon  the  subject. 

If  you  have  leisure,  pray  say  something  of  the  causes  of  most 
consequence  which  have  lately  been  decided,  or  whicb  will  be  sub 
judice,  when  I  hope  to  arrive  next  summer,  (which  by  the  by  I 
shall  endeavor  to  do  before  the  circuit.)  Any  issues  in  law,  upon 
demurrers,  special  pleadings,  or  special  verdicts,  grounded  upon 
the  construction  of  the  old  or  of  the  new  laws,  I  should  be  cflad  to 
have  a  short  state  of.  I  have  not  read  much  law  since  I  have 
been  here,  but  one  or  two  cases  in  which  I  was  consulted,  I  sifted 
to  the  bottom  ;  nor  have  I  attended  the  courts  sufficiently  to  form 
any  accurate  observations.  This  winter  1  shall  perhaps  devote 
a  little  more  of  my  time  to  professional  information ;  but  it  is 
not  my  intention  to  resume  my  practice  even  if  I  should  be  permit- 
ted to  do  so. 

I  am  very  much  flattered,  with  the  friendly  disposition  which 
you  mention  to  be  entertained  for  me  by  some  respectable  charac- 
ters in  the  State  of  New-York,  particularly  Judge  Yates,  whom  I 
ever  considered  as  a  man  of  a  clear,  and  a  strong  head  ;  and  I 
doubt  not  but  he  fills  his  office  with  ability  and  uprightness.  If  he 
again  mentions  my  name,  pray  present  my  best  compliments  to 
him.  JNIr.  Cruger  informs  me  that  Judge  Ilobart  has  also  spoke 
favorably  of  me.  The  Governor,  I  shall  write  to ;  as  I  feel  myself 
under  great  obligations  to  him,  for  his  recollection  of  what  passed 
between  him  and  me  when  I  saw  him  last,  and  for  his  determination 
to  act  up  to  it.  His  manly,  spirited,  and  consistent  conduct,  as  the 
chief  magistrate  of  the  State,  is  often  mentioned  here  in  a  very  hon- 
orable way.  I  assure  you,  I  promise  myself  much  happiness  in 
my  native  country,  of  which  I  shall  endeavor  to  make  myself  a 
useful  member  of  society,  as  far  as  my  contracted  sphere  will  ad- 
mit of.     For  my  part  I  have  no  enmities,  political  or  personal,  and 


364  THE     LIFE     OF 

I  trust  I  shall  be  allowed  to  begin  de  novo,  and  to  be  tested  by  my 
future  conduct,  without  a  retrospect  to  what  is  past ;  for,  between 
you  and  me,  the  most  distant  appearance  of  a  retraction  of  principle 
I  never  will  submit  to,  be  the  consequence  what  it  may.  If  my 
old  principles  of  government  in  geneial,  applied  to  the  present 
establishment,  are  supposed  incompatible  with  its  welfare,  and  will 
render  me  an  object  of  jealousy  or  suspicion,  I  shall  bid  adieu  to  the 
State  of  New-York,  as  much  as  I  shall  continue  to  w'ish  its  pros- 
perity. 

I  would  wish  to  know"  the  terms  upon  which  I  am  to  be  admit- 
ted, before  I  land  at  New-York,  and  enter  upon  my  citizenship  ; 
for  doubts  upon  this  subject  would  be  unpleasant  companions  upon 
my  passage,  and  I  mention  this  so  early,  that  my  friends  may 
have  time  to  write  me  explicitly  about  a  matter  in  which  my  feel- 
ings are  deeply  interested.  I  think  the  less  my  relations  and  par- 
ticular friends  say  about  me  at  present,  except  confidentially  to 
some  of  the  principal  characters,  the  better.  About  the  month  of 
January,  my  return  may  be  more  publicly  mentioned.  Perhaps 
you  will  think,  I  make  myself  of  much  more  consequence  than  I 
am  ;  but  I  think  I  have  reasons  to  exculpate  me,  if  I  could  enter 
fully  into  them.  I  have  certain  ideas  of  a  consistency  of  character 
\vhich  I  would  wish  to  act  up  to ;  not  for  the  sake  of  public  ap- 
plause, (that  I  neither  wish  nor  could  hope  to  obtain,)  but  for  the 
gratification  of  my  own  mind.  I  find  I  have  great  pride,  but  its 
objects  are  not  the  objects  of  either  wealth  or  ambition. 

Adieu  !  my  tenderest  remembrance  to  my  mother,  my  sister 
and  the  children. 

Yours  affectionately, 

P.  V.  S. 

FROM  HENRY  VAN  SCHAACK. 
My  dear  Brother  : 

Your  several  letters  of  the  19th  and  27th  May,  30th  June, 
10th  and  21st  July,  remain  all  unanswered,  owing  to  want  of 
time  and  want  of  health,  and  the  want  of  the  latter  makes  writing 
and  reading  painful  to  me  in  the  extreme.  I  scarce  ever  take  up 
my  pen  but  when  I  am  compelled  to  write,  which,  by  the  by,  is 
almost  every  day  of  my  life,  and  so  many  concerns  have  I  on  my 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  3G5 

hands,  that  I  can  never  go  abroad  for  recreation  but  my  amuse- 
ments are  clogged  wltli  business  of  my  own,  or  the  paternal  estate. 
Besides  all  this,  since  the  month  of  May,  we  moved  out  our  effects 
twice  ;  once  to  Stockbridge,  anil  since,  from  there  to  this  place. 
Here  I  have  made  an  advantageous  purchase,  and  live  in  the  midst 
of  those  who  owe.  1  have  made  some  other  purchases  about  me, 
and  I  have  a  number  of  mortgages  in  the  neighborhood,  so  that,  in 
all  probability,  I  shall  be  a  considerable  landholder  in  a  little  time. 

The  fiirm  I  live  on  I  bought  for  four  hundred  seventy-four 
pounds  York  money,  and  contains  eighty-six  acres  good  land,  with 
a  tolerable  good  house,  barn,  and  a  young  orchard,  and  a  pleasant 
lake  in  sight  of  me.  In  my  life-time,  I  never  lived  among  a  more 
civil,  obliging  people.  During  my  residence  in  Richmond  I 
never  was  a  witness  to  swearing,  drunkenness,  or  a  breach  of 
Sabbath,  or,  in  short,  any  flagrant  trespass  upon  morality.  A  purse 
of  gold  hung  up  in  the  public  streets,  would  be  as  safe  from  our 
inhabitants  as  it  used  to  be  in  the  great  Alfred's  time.  Beggars 
and  vagrants  we  are  strangers  to,  as  well  as  overbearing,  purse- 
proud  scoundrels.  Provisions  we  abound  in — beef,  veal,  mutton 
and  lamb,  in  the  spring,  summer  and  fall,  we  buy  at  2d.  lawful 
per  pound  ;  in  winter,  beef  and  mutton  2\d.  and  3d. — every  thing 
else  in  proportion,  and  very  plenty.  I  throw  out  this  by  way  of 
bait  to  get  you  here,  and  of  caution  not  to  determine  upon  a  resi- 
dence elsewhere. 

I  have  just  returned  from  Vermont.  I  took  your  son  Harry 
and  F.  Silvester  in  my  sleigh,  who,  as  well  as  myself,  were  much 
pleased  wath  the  jaunt.  We  met  with  agreeable  society  and  very 
good  fare.  In  Bennington,  we  lived  in  a  style  much  beyond  what 
I  had  any  conception  of,  and  so  w^e  did  in  Manchester,  about  twen- 
ty-five miles  farther.  We  paid  our  respects  in  going  and  returning 
to  his  excellency  Governor  Chittenden,  who  is  a  conversant,  plea- 
sant old  gentleman,  and  as  much  superior  to  what  I  had  conceived 
of  him,  as  the  town  of  Bennington  exceeds  Kinderhook,  in  the  ele- 
gance and  taste  of  building  and  living.  In  travelling  sixty-four 
miles  and  back  again,  four  days  out,  lived  extraordinary  well  all 
the  time,  and  among  other  things,  dined  upon  boiled  turkey  and 
oyster  sauce,  at  Manchester.  The  whole  expense  of  our  bill  while 
we  were  out,  horse-keeping  in  the  bargain,  was  twenty-six  shil- 


366  THE     LIFE     OF 

lino-s  eio^ht  pence  York  money  apiece.  Add  to  the  advantages  of 
travellmo",  that  your  person  and  property  on  the  road  and  in  the 
inns  are  perfectly  safe.  Murders,  robberies,  burglaries  or  petty 
larcenies,  are  scarce  heard  of  in  this  country.  So  perfectly  am  I 
satisfied  with  the  manners,  customs  and  laws  of  this  common- 
wealth, that  I  would  not  exchange  for  any  other  I  know  of  in  the 
world. 

It  will  be  difficult  for  you  to  believe,  at  so  great  a  distance, 
that  immediately  after  the  horrors  of  a  civil  war,  the  new  govern- 
ment should  have  force  and  energy,  the  morals  and  religion  of  the 
inhabitants  apparently  as  pure  and  uncorrupt  as  they  were  at  their 
best,  a  number  of  years  before  the  late  distractions.  It  is  surpri- 
sing that  no  more  people  in  middling  stations  of  life  do  not  leave 
the  old  world  and  come  hither.  It  is  true,  the  public  calamities 
have  brought  heavy  burthens,  but  these  become  lighter,  and  will 
be  more  and  more  so  every  year.  The  epitome  of  human  misery 
(I  mean  the  civil  war)  in  this  country,  has  been  accompanied  whh 
a  failure  of  crops  for  some  years  back,  which  have  added  to  the 
sufferings  of  the  inhabitants.  The  last  season  has  been  an  extra- 
ordinary one  for  the  farmers  to  get  their  grain  in  the  ground,  and 
thus  far  every  thing  promises  well,  as  the  ground  has  been  covered 
with  snow  since  the  middle  of  December  last. 

If  any  of  your  friends  wish  to  migrate,  by  way  of  inducement, 
you  may  assure  them  that  lands  are  cheap  and  good  in  Berkshire. 
Building  materials  of  every  sort  in  great  plenty.  All  that  I  now 
want  in  this  my  delightful  retreat,  is  a  few  people  of  your  cast 
about  me.  Come  over  to  us,  and  we  will  meet  with  such  cordi- 
ality, love  and  friendship,  that  we  shall,  in  our  brotherly  embraces, 
forg^et  that  we  ever  ditfered  upon  any  single  point. 

Your  aifcctionate  brother, 

Henry  Van  Schaack. 

TO  DAVID  VAN  SCHAACK. 

Beverley,  Yorkshire,  26lh  Sept.,  17S4. 
My  dear  Brother  : 

Your  letter  of  the  20lh  July,  was  forwarded  to  me  from  Lon- 
don to  this  place,  where  I  have  been  a  month,  and  shall  remain 
some  time  longer. 


PETER      VAN      S  C  II  A  A  C  K  .  367 

What  you  say  of  the  mansion  house,  my  ilear  David,  gives  me 
pleasure.  With  all  my  petulance,  1  would  not  have  found  fault, 
liad  you  upon  the  spot  determined  to  sell  it;  and  I  shall  still  acquiesce, 
do  as  you  like;  but  I  own  my  heart  is  a  little  engaged  in  this  mat- 
ter, and  I  have  sensations  towards  that  place  which  1  cannot  ex- 
press. It  woultl  hurt  me  to  see  it  in  the  hanrls  of  a  stranger.  This 
may  be  weakness ;  but  it  is  from  these  little  weaknesses  that  our 
greatest  pleasures  flow.  Philosophy  teaches  us  to  bear  the  ills  of 
life  with  fortitude,  but  does  not  require  of  us  insensibility  to  the 
innocent  enjoyments  of  it.  You  know  my  finances,  and  there- 
fore will  be  able  to  judge  how  far  I  can  afford  to  take  this  place. 
I  must  live  upon  my  interest,  for  I  dare  not  rest  any  hopes  upon  my 
being  able  to  practice,  the  situation  of  my  eyesight  being  so  very 
precarious.  It  answers  my  present  purpose  well  enough,  but  were 
I  to  go  into  business,  I  know  myself  so  well,  that  I  could  not  con- 
fine myself  to  a  moderate  share  of  reading  or  writing;  and  I  might, 
by  an  excess  of  either,  precipitate  a  crisis,  which  I  owe  it  to  myself 
to  keep  off  as  long  as  possible.  Nevertheless,  I  intend  to  devote 
more  of  my  time  this  winter  than  I  have  yet  done,  to  my  profes- 
sion :  but  my  friends,  I  fear,  will  be  much  disappointed  in  their  ex- 
pectations of  the  improvements  I  have  made  under  those  advan- 
tages which  they  probably  suppose  I  have  had  by  being  in  England. 
However,  such  as  I  am,  I  hope  they  will  be  satisfied  with  me. 

I  spend  my  time  very  pleasantly  here,  and  in  the  neighborhood 
of  this  place,  which  is  near  two  hundred  miles  from  London,  and 
am  in  the  most  perfect  health  and  spirits.  My  chief  time  is  spent 
among  the  ladies,  who  are  very  polite,  sociable,  and  therefore 
agreeable  :  by  this  means,  I  enjoy  a  very  pleasing  relaxation,  in  a 
M'holesome  country  air,  and  having  a  riding-horse  and  a  carriage 
whenever  I  choose  to  command  either,  I  take  a  wonderful  deal  of 
exercise.  The  women  are  very  numerous,  and  I  mix  in  their  little 
parties,  old  and  young,  and  am  grave  or  merry  according  to  the 
humor  of  my  company.  The  pleasing  hope  of  soon  seeing  my 
native  country  is  an  exhaustless  source  of  spirits  to  me,  while  my 
cheerfulness  is  probably  imputed  to  a  native  flow  of  good  humor, 
which  I  fear  you  will  not  allow  me  to  be  entitled  to.  At  any  rate, 
I  flatter  myself  the  people  I  associate  with  are  pleased  to  see  me 
so  happy  in  their  society.  I  travel  with  a  disposition  to  be  pleased. 


368  THE     LIFE     OF 

and  do  not,  like  some  of  our  countrymen,  find  fault  with  what  I 
cannot  mend.  This  is  a  fine  country,  and  almost  throughout  a 
perfect  garden.  You  can  have  no  conception  how  highly  culti- 
vated and  improved  it  is  :  but  I  w^ill  be  bold  to  say,  that  a  benevo- 
lent mind  will  find  more  real,  rational  giatificalion  in  America. 
I  have  been  more  than  once  complimented  upon  my  candor  in 
comparing  the  two  countries  together,  as  well  as  to  the  natural  as 
the  social  advantages  of  either.     Prejudice  I  abhor. 

You  make  me  very  happy  by  teUing  me  how  w^ell  my  mother 
is,  and  how  satisfactorily  situated  with  that  best  of  women,  our 
sister  P. ;  and  you  may  be  sure,  I  feel  sincere  pleasure  in  the  ac- 
count you  give  of  her  worthy  husband's  getting  ahead,  in  these 
untoward  times.  To  make  the  evening  of  our  aged  parent's  life 
easy  and  happy,  should  be  the  object  of  us  all ;  and  for  my  part,  I 
give  unlimited  power  to  contribute  towards  it  from  my  little  stock, 
and  I  entreat  you  to  be  my  almoner  upon  this  occasion,  or  any 
other  that  you  think  a  proper  one,  for  bestowing  a  seasonable  relief. 
We  ought  to  make  it  as  easy  as  possible  to  our  sister,  in  taking  a 
charge  upon  her  which  is  equally  the  duty  of  us  all.  We  have  all 
reason  to  be  thankful  for  our  condition  in  life,  and  to  whom  do  we 
owe  it  ? 

I  hope  Coupar  will  bring  me  letters — I  don't  like  chasrns  in 
correspondences ;  they  should  be  chains  in  which  every  link  is 
preserved.  Their  continuity  and  connection  gives  them  all  their 
strength. 

God  bless  you,  my  dear  David  and  Catharine;  and  remember 
me  most  tenderly  to  my  mother  and  all  friends. 

Yours  affectionately, 

P.  V.  S. 


TETEll      VAN      SCHAACK.  369 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

It  was  an  admirable  commentary  upon  the  interesting  and 
eloquent  letters  written  by  Mr.  Van  Schaack  from  England  to  his 
connections  in  America,  contained  in  the  letter  to  him  from  his 
young  American  friend,  who  had  enjoyed  the  perusal  of  many  of 
those  letters  at  the  time — "  How  happens  it  that  I  always  shed 
tears  when  I  read  your  letters  ?  Can  it  proceed  from  the  peculiar 
sensibility  I  feel  in  perusing  them,  or  from  your  pathetic  manner 
of  expression  ?  I  cannot  tell  which."  We  scarcely  know  which 
most  to  admire,  the  merit  of  epistolary  productions  which  could 
make  so  pleasing  an  impression  upon  a  youthful  mind,  or  the 
touching  simplicity  of  language  and  expression,  with  which  an  idea 
of  that  impression  is  conveyed,  by  his  young  correspondent.  The 
author  will  make  no  apology  for  having  given  to  those  letters  so 
large  a  place  in  this  w^ork.  When,  in  connection  with  their  peru- 
sal, it  is  stated,  that  Peter  Van  Schaack  w^as  a  man  of  sincerity  and 
of  candor ;  that  the  expressions  contained  in  these  letters  are  not 
mere  unmeaning  phrases,  but  that  the  existence,  in  their  author,  of 
the  amiable  traits  of  character  which  they  imply,  was  demonstrated 
by  a  pure  and  unsophisticated  life  and  practice  of  fourscore  years, — 
the  reader  will  appreciate  their  value,  in  forming  an  estimate  of  the 
character  of  Peter  Van  Schaack.  A  few  letters  to  and  from  par- 
ticular friends  will  now"  be  given,  and  these  will  close  his  corres- 
pondence from  England. 

TO  THEODORE  SEDGWICK. 

Londxm,  23d  Oct.,  1783. 
My  dear  Sir  : 

I  have  often  taken  up  my  pen  to  write  to  you,  but  so  many 
subjects  have  occurred  upon  which  I  wished  to  enlarge,  that  I 

47 


370  THE     LIFE     OF 

have  been  discouraged  by  the  great  variety,  and  the  difficulty  of 
making  a  clioice  of  any — ter  cecidere  manus. 

My  brother  sent  me  two  letters  with  which  you  have  honored 
him,  in  which  I  am  happy  to  find  such  marked  traits  of  the  well- 
known  character  of  my  liberal-minded  friend.  My  brothers,  I 
hope,  are  by  this  time  settled  near  you.  They  engage  much  of  my 
anxiety ;  but  my  hopes,  though  mingled  with  fears  and  apprehen- 
sions, will  preponderate.  It  cannot  be,  that  men  w^hose  confidence 
and  friendship  we  formerly  had,  and  with  whom  we  have  so  long 
lived  in  habits  of  friendly  intercourse,  should  bear  any  animosity  to 
us,  or  retain  any  jealousies,  when  the  objects  of  them  (how^ever 
w^ell  founded  heretofore)  are  now^  no  longer  in  existence.  Such 
are  the  feelings  of  my  mind  on  this  occasion,  that  I  should  be 
happy  to  be  put  to  the  ordeal.  There  is  nothing  certain  in  this  hfe, 
but  in  this  case  I  have  an  animated  assurance,  upon  which  I  would 
stake  my  fate.  I  shall  not,  I  believe,  write  to  them  till  I  hear  of 
their  situation ;  which  you  will  be  pleased  to  mention,  with  an 
acknowledgment  of  the  favor  of  their  late  letters,  one  of  which  was 
particularly  interesting. 

My  own  destiny  is  yet  undecided,  and  must  depend  on  future 
events.  At  present,  I  think  of  going  out  next  spring  ;  but  where 
is  yet  uncertain.  The  measures  adopted  after  the  evacuation,  will 
decide  the  point.  Till  that  event,  I  owm  that  I,  w^ho  endeavor  to 
view  things  upon  a  large  scale,  and  never  condemn  any  man  or 
set  of  men  without  putting  myself  in  their  situation,  and  without 
judging  of  them  as  I  would  be  judged  of.  do  not  think  that  any 
systematic  proceedings  can  be  expected.  I  hold  any  judgment  of 
the  future  founded  upon  the  present  proceedings  only,  and  w'ithout 
regard  to  the  great  constituent  principles  of  human  nature,  to 
be  quite  premature.  I  expect  from  my  countrymen  at  large,  the 
conduct  of  men,  not  of  angels  or  demons,  philosophers  or  savages. 
But  enough  of  this. 

You  will  easily  suppose  when  you  consult  your  own  heart,  who 
the  chief  objects  of  my  anxiety  are,  during  this  painful  absence.  I 
am  not  actuated  by  ambitious  views  with  respect  to  my  children ; 
and  if  I  have  a  wish  that  my  son  should  be  a  man  of  letters  and 
abilities,  it  is,  I  do  assure  you,  but  secondary  to  the  consideration 
of  morals  and  a  good  disposition.     To  promote  this,  as  conducive 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  371 

to  the  happiness  of  a  cliiki,  ou^ht  to  be  the  first  oLjcct,  as  it  is 
the  first  duty  of  a  parent.  It  may  perhaps  seem  strange,  but  I  own 
that  if  there  is  a  (hlference  between  the  parental  and  filial  obhira- 
tion,  in  my  opinion  the  former  is  the  greatest.  Scienee  and  learn- 
ing, unless  they  are  the  handmaids  of  virtue,  and  by  that  avenue, 
to  hapi)iness,  are,  I  tliink,  mere  sounds.  This  general  idea  I  could 
wish  to  be  the  polar  star,  by  which  the  education  of  my  children 
should  be  directed.  In  your  company,  my  dear  sir,  and  in  that  of 
your  favored  friends,  I  could  wish  ray  dear  boy  might  sometimes 
be  admitted.  I  want  his  mind  to  be  enlarged  by  a  liberal  way  of 
thinking  ;  and  his  heart  dilated  by  an  extensive  charity,  free  from 
bigotry  or  prejudice.  Times  like  those  we  have  lived  in,  will  often 
warp  and  contract  even  well-disposed  minds.  We  should  guard 
the  rising  generation  against  this  pernicious  influence  of  passion. 
We  should  rather  hold  up  to  them,  examples  of  those  who  have 
nobly  sacrificed  prejudice  and  enmity  at  the  shrine  of  benevolence, 
charity,  and  humanity.  The  mutual  kindness  of  Milton  and  Dave- 
nant,  though  opponents  in  the  civil  commotions,  Addison's  friend- 
ship to  Swift,  Caesar's  conduct  towards  Marcellus,  on  which 
Cicero  passes  so  beautiful  an  encomium ;  and  Augustus's  fondness 
of  Horace,  though  he  had  been  his  avowed  enemy  and  served  un- 
der Brutus,  afford  such  pictures  as  we  can  behold  with  compla- 
cency. 

But,  I  am  again  exceeding  the  proper  bounds  of  a  letter ;  let 
me  only  add,  that  I  wish  my  boy  to  be  introduced  to  Mrs.  S.  and 
her  female  friends.  I  am  almost  afraid  to  inquire  about  a  certain 
old  lady,  for  whom  I  ever  held  the  highest  veneration.  My  re- 
spectful compliments  to  Mrs.  Sedgwick,  and  with  my  most  sincere 
prayers  for  the  happiness  of  you  both,  believe  me,  my  dear  sir. 

Your  warm  friend,  P.  \.  S. 

W^hen  you  see  Mr.  0.  W.,  tell  him  how  sensible  I  am  of  his 
kind  remembrance. 

FROM  GOUVERNEUR  MORRIS. 

Philadelphia,  1st  Oct.,  17S3. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  received  the  letter  which  you  was  so  kind  as  to  write  by  Mr. 
Mullet     I  had  very  little  opportunity  to  enjoy  the  pleasure  of  his 


372  THE     LIFE     OF 

company.  His  engagements  and  mine  fully  occupied  our  time, 
and  were  of  so  different  a  nature  as  seldom  to  bring  us  together ; 
however,  I  hope  on  his  return  from  Boston,  to  be  more  fortunate. 

You  say  that  it  gives  you  pleasure  to  remember  your  early 
friendships :  this  I  am  not  surprised  at,  for,  in  truth,  we  meet  with 
little  else  of  friendship  to  remember.  The  after-connections  of  life, 
generally  have  some  other  base.  My  own  heart,  worn  by  the  suc- 
cession of  objects  which  have  invaded  it,  looks  back  with  more 
than  female  fondness  towards  the  connections  of  earlier  days.  But 
these  things  are  past.     Lahantur,  lahantur  anni. 

I  need  not  tell  you  that  I  lamented  your  departure  from  your 
native  country  ;  you  know  my  sentiments  on  that  subject.  What 
has  happened  since,  was  then  present  to  my  mind ;  but  for  your 
consolation,  I  will  venture  to  say,  (spite  of  contrary  appearances,) 
that  the  rage  against  loyalists  will  soon  give  place  to  more  favor- 
able sentiments.  Time  shall  be  my  judge.  Adieu.  Time  is  al- 
ready an  inexorable  judge,  and  bids  me  quit  the  pleasure  of  con- 
versing with  you.     Adieu.    Believe  me,  sincerely. 

Yours,  Gouv.  Morris. 

TO  GOUVERNEUR  MORRIS. 

London,  \bth  March,  1784. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  received  your  letter  with  very  sincere  pleasure,  not  only 
because  it  assured  me  of  the  continuance  of  your  friendship,  but 
because  it  breathes  the  same  spirit  of  liberality  and  philanthropy, 
for  which  I  have  always  admired  your  character.  I  own  to  you, 
my  friend,  that  oblivion  and  conciliation  are  the  great  objects  of 
my  incessant,  most  fervent  wish.  Whether  in  this  I  am  influenced 
by  selfish,  sinister,  or  partial  considerations;  or  whether  I  may 
claim  a  more  enlarged  and  more  comprehensive  principle,  which 
is  directed  towards  the  happiness  of  my  native  country,  I  will  not 
pretend  to  say ;  but  if  /  know  my  own  heart,  I  think  I  can  abstract 
5^// entirely  from  this  great  question,  at  least  I  have  endeavored  to 
do  it.  I  feel  the  less  embarrassment  to  speak  my  sentiments  on 
what  I  conceive  would  conduce  to  the  happiness  of  America, 
because  I  consider  myself  as  a  citizen  of  the  world  ;  and  though 
inclination  w^ould  lead  me,  and  near  connections  strongly  draw  me 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  373 

to  that  country  ;  yet  necessity  docs  not  compel  me  to  make  it  my 
residence.  Exile,  my  dear  sir,  is  a  severe  dispensation,  and  re- 
quires every  effort  of  philosophy  to  sustain  it,  more  especially  when 
the  habits  and  manners  of  the  country  we  are  proscribed  from, 
independent  of  the  natale  solum,  diXii  congenial  to  our  own  cast  of 
mind  and  peculiar  way  of  thinking.  This,  in  comparing*  the  state 
of  society  in  our  country,  as  being  less  distant  from  that  middle 
line  between  uncivilized  life  and  the  refinements  of  luxury,  w"ith  its 
more  advanced  progress  in  the  old  world,  is  an  aggravation  I  feel 
very  strongly.  I  am  not,  how^ever,  without  my  consolations,  and 
w^ith  an  habitual  disposition  to  make  the  best  of  my  situation,  what- 
ever it  may  be,  and  from  a  general  principle  pretty  strongly  tinctured 
with  optimism,  I  pass  my  time  as  agreeably  as  most  people. 

I  trust  your  late  predictions,  like  those  of  an  earlier  date,  wdll 
have  their  full  accomplishment.  I  know  there  are  vitia  temporum 
as  well  as  vitia  hominum.  It  is  peculiarly  incumbent  on  those  w  horn 
Providence  has  endued  with  a  superior  degree  of  understanding,  to 
counteract  the  pernicious  effects  of  the  one  as  w^ell  as  of  the  other. 

I  see  many  of  your  old  friends  almost  every  day,  and  we  often 
talk  of  you.  Once  or  twice  I  have  been  an  hour  in  company  with 
your  brother.  Our  old  friend  Jay  was  near  three  months  in  this 
country,  and  he  and  I  w^ere  often  together.  Instead  of  wasting  our 
time  in  unavailing  recriminations,  the  present  and  future  happiness 
of  our  common  country,  and  the  means  conducive  to  it,  afforded 
ample  subjects  for  conversation.  He  talks  of  returning  to  private 
life  and  of  resuming  his  profession,  but  I  fancy  the  public  will 
hardly  dispense  with  his  further  services. 

I  thank  you  for  your  attention  to  my  introduction  of  Mr.  Mullet, 
whom  I  hope  you  have  seen  before  now.  Will  you  excuse  me  for 
mentioning  a  more  humble  character,  the  bearer,  John  Randall,  a 
wheehvright  and  carpenter,  who  is  going  to  settle  in  Philadelphia. 
He  has  been  mentioned  to  me  as  a  young  man  of  good  parentage 
and  fair  character. 

I  am  with  great  esteem,  dear  sir, 

Your  sincere  friend, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

If  you  should  happen  to  go  to  Kinderhook,  let  me  beg  it  as  a 
particular  favor,  that  you  will  see  my  dear  boy. 


374  THE     LIFE     OF 


TO  PETER  VAN  SCHAACK. 

Philadelphia,  18ih  June,  1784. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  have  received  your  letter  of  the  fifteenth  of  March  last  from 
London,  and  very  sincerely  thank  you  for  it.  Depend  on  it,  that 
if  I  go  near  to  Kinderhook,  I  will  execute  the  commission  which 
your  heart  has  given  me.  Mine  can  estimate  the  value,  although 
I  am  not  (to  use  Milton's  language)  acquainted  with  the  "  relations 
dear,  and  all  the  charities  of  father,  son." 

I  perfectly  coincide  with  you  in  opinion,  that  America  is  the 
country  in  the  world,  whose  social  state  admits  of  the  greatest 
portion  of  happiness.  While  on  this  subject,  I  will  make  here  the 
feeble  record  of  a  sentiment  which  occurred  to  me  in  conversation. 
If  we  would  know  when  any  nation  possesses  the  greatest  mass  of 
felicity  cceteris  paribus,  we  must  discover  that  period  in  which  there 
is  the  greatest  proportion  of  young  people  compared  with  the  old. 
The  young  are  looking  forward  to  brighter  prospects ;  the  old  are 
bounded  by  the  grave.  This  applies  strongly  to  a  new  country ; 
for  there,  all  are  in  a  state  of  progression.  Each  individual  pos- 
sesses, at  the  end  of  every  year,  an  increased  portion  of  what  is 
desirable  to  man ;  and  at  every  step  his  ideas  expand,  and  open 
the  view  of  some  greater  good. 

Such  being  my  sentiment,  (for  the  thought  arose  more  from 
feeling  than  reflection.)  I  have  commiserated  with  a  double  pang, 
the  fale  of  those  who  have  been  exiled  from  among  us.  My  polit- 
ical ideas  also  are  far  from  lessening  the  regret,  because  I  see  no 
necessity  for  the  measure.  Were  this  a  monarchy,  I  would  sub- 
scribe to  it  fully  ;  because  the  reigning  and  the  deposed  families, 
must  each  have  hereditary  friendships  and  antipathies  among  the 
people.  But  in  a  republic  it  cannot  be  so.  The  metaphysical  idea 
of  the  state  does  not  so  inhere  in  any  particular  body  as  to  give 
room  for  an  exercise  of  the  dissocial  emotions.  We  may  love  the 
country  though  we  hate  the  king ;  but  it  is  not  in  nature  to  hate  the 
country.  Nor  can  we  long  dislike  the  government,  when  that 
government  is  ourselves.  With  a  very  few  exceptions,  therefore, 
of  old  and  powerful  enemies,  I  would  open  wide  the  doors  of  that 
temple  which  we  have  reared  to  liberty  ;  and  in  consecrating  an 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  375 

asylum  to  the  persecuted  of  mankind,  I  would  not  exclude  those 
who  fust  drew  the  vital  air,  and  first  saw  the  light  in  America. 

Here  is  a  letter,  very  little  fit  to  proceed  from  a  man  who  has 
long  been  engaged  in  public  life,  and  who  ought  perhaps  to  reason 
more,  and  to  feel  less.  But  when  I  write  to  you,  it  is  in  the  con- 
fidence of  early  friendship,  and  with  the  belief",  that  you  will  not 
expose  my  puerilities  to  a  common  gaze.  Adieu.  But  before  I 
leave  you,  let  me  introduce  Mr.  John  Rucker,  who  is  to  be  the  bearer 
of  this  letter.  He  is  a  gentleman  in  the  mercantile  line  ;  member  of 
a  house  established  in  New-York.  I  have  desired  him  to  apply  to 
you,  should  he  need  advice  during  his  stay  in  England.  Believe 
me  always  very  truly,  Yours, 

Gouv.  Morris. 

TO   OLIVER   WENDELL. 

London,  2d  April,  1784. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  have  heard  with  sincere  pleasure  of  your  obliging  inquiries 
after  me,  but  it  is  only  within  a  few  days  that  I  was  informed  that 
you  had  done  me  the  honor  of  writing  me  a  letter.  I  have  to 
lament  the  miscarriage  of  it,  or  I  should  have  availed  myself  of 
more  than  one  opportunity  of  acknowledging  so  flattering  an  in- 
stance of  your  attention.  I  can  never  forget  your  behavior  to  me 
while  I  was  at  Boston,  by  which  you  gave  an  example,  that  pri- 
vate humanity  and  public  duty  were  not  irreconcilable.  A  benev- 
olent mind  W'ill  find  frequent  occasions  of  exemplifying  this  truth, 
even  in  seasons  of  more  tranquillity  than  have  fallen  to  the  lot  of 
America  for  some  years  past ;  but  how  will  these  occasions  be  mul- 
tiplied in  the  present  arduous  conjuncture,  after  men's  passions 
have  been  let  loose,  and  in  the  pursuit  of  an  end  they  deemed  laud- 
able, the  means  perhaps  habitually  not  much  regarded  !  A  strong 
head  and  a  tender  heart  will,  in  this  situation  of  things,  point  to 
the  same  object;  for  I  am  convinced  that  humanity  will  not  more 
ardently  wish,  than  sound  reason  dictate  the  expediency  and  ne- 
cessity of  throwing  a  veil  of  oblivion  over  the  past,  and  of  cherish- 
ing a  "  spirit  of  conciliation"  in  future. 

I  know  these  sentiments  come  not  with  the  best  grace  from 
people  of  my  description,  and  are  subject  to  an  invidious  construe- 


376  THE     LIFE     OF 

tion  from  those  who  think  that  self-interest  is  the  only  motive  of 
men's  actions.  With  such  men,  philanthropy  is  nothing  but  a 
sound,  and  the  duties  of  morality  and  rehgion  mere  matters  of  con- 
venience. If  I  know  myself,  1  am  not  one  of  those  who  wish  to 
mould  doctrines  to  suit  my  own  purposes,  and  I  think  if  I  w^as  with 
the  victorious  instead  of  the  vanquished  party,  I  should  be  equally 
an  advocate  for  the  rights  of  private  judgment,  the  principles  of 
toleration,  and  the  o-eneral  interests  of  society.  Alas!  what  is  there 
in  life  worth  pursuing,  and  what  are  the  acquisitions  of  wealth,  dis- 
tinction and  power,  if,  to  obtain  them,  we  must  sacrifice  to  the 
demons  of  malice,  revenge  or  intolerance  ? 

I  have  not  finally  determined  upon  my  future  destination,  which 
will  depend  in  a  great  measure  upon  the  information  I  receive  of 
the  temper  and  principles  my  countrymen  are  actuated  by :  my 
native  country  is  the  magnet  which  attracts  my  heart,  its  fondest 
views,  and  its  most  powerful  affections.  But  if  dishonor  or  humi- 
liation must  be  the  price  by  which  it  is  to  be  regained ;  even  that 
I  can  resign.  "  The  world  is  all  before  me  where  to  choose  a 
place  of  rest,"  and  I  trust  Providence  will  be  my  guide  to  find  one. 
Be  assured,  my  dear  sir,  I  neither  do  nor  shall  harbor  any  resent- 
ments, but  shall  carry  with  me  the  warmest  wishes  for  the  happi- 
ness of  my  native  country,  and  as  to  the  government  which  shall 
be  adapted  to  that  important  end,  I  can  say  with  sincerity  of  heart, 
esto  perpetua  ! 

You  will,  I  hope,  excuse  the  length  of  this  letter,  as  you  will 
naturally  conceive  that  subjects  of  this  kind  will  find  their  way  to 
my  reflections.  Whatever  my  fate  may  be,  believe  me,  I  shall 
always  rejoice  in  the  happiness  of  others,  and  more  especially,  of 
those  worthy  characters,  whom  I  have  the  honor  of  numbering 
among  my  friends.  I  beg  my  most  respectful  compliments  to  Mrs. 
Wendell,  and  am  with  truth,  dear  sir, 

Your  most  obedient  and  obliged  humble  servant, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

TO  JOHN  JAY. 

London,  6th  July,  1784. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  wrote  you  a  very  hasty  letter  within  this  fortnight,  in  which 


PETER      VAiN     SCHAACK.  377 

I  informed  you  tliat  notwithstanding;  tlic  assurances  I  bad  received, 
that  the  executors  had  oveiconie  their  scruples  and  liud  called  in 
the  money  for  the  purpose  of  paying  it,  yet  that  [  had  received  a 
letter  from  Dean  Tucker,  intimating  that  Doctor  Drummond  had 
been  alarmed  of  anew  by  Mr.  Osborne's  opinion,  "  that  if  the  pow- 
ers of  attorney  should  turn  out  to  he  forgeries ,  Mr.  Coperat's  con- 
sent to  the  payment  of  the  legacies  would  not  exempt  the  executors 
from  a  repayment.''^  The  Dean  is  satisfied  and  behaves  with  liber- 
ality, but  the  Doctor  seems  to  be  armed  with  suspicions  like  the 
porcupine  with  quills.  I  have  written  the  Dean  with  earnestness, 
and  expect  to  have  his  answer  soon ;  but,  lest  it  should  not  be  a 
favorable  one,  you  had  better  furnish  me  with  new  powers. 

Long  before  this  reaches  New-York  I  hope  you  will  have 
safely  arrived  there,  and  have  met  your  friends  in  health  and  hap- 
piness. I  trust,  likewise,  that  you  will  find  public  affairs  wearing 
a  more  benign  aspect  than  they  did  last  winter.  The  restoration 
of  my  brothers  is  a  very  pleasing  circumstance  to  me.  That  I  was 
not  comprehended  in  it  is  owing,  I  believe,  to  a  misconception  of 
the  Governor  with  respect  to  my  particular  situation.  He  has 
been  oblio-inp;  enough  to  declare  that  there  was  nothing;  to  obstruct 

O        CD  O  O 

my  return,  for  that  he  had  put  me  on  the  footing  of  a  British  pris- 
oner, and  as  such  had  exchanged  me.  I  verily  believe  his  view"  in  the 
manner  in  which  he  treated  me  was  to  exempt  me  from  the  penalties 
of  the  act,  but  I  conceive  this  was  not  within  the  power  of  the  Exe- 
cutive, worded  as  the  act  is.  He  showed  a  very  friendly  disposition 
towards  me,  and  I  believe  would  have  given  me  a  much  more  am- 
ple proof  of  it  in  the  paper  he  signed,  which  he  desired  me  to  draw 
myself,  and  which,  from  motives  of  delicacy,  I  assure  you,  I  made 
only  a  simple  certificate  of  a  fact,  viz.,  "that  he  had  given  me  per- 
mission to  go  to  England  when  the  situation  of  public  matters  would 
admit  of  it."  This,  indeed,  was  antecedent  to  the  "  proceedings  of 
the  Commissioners  at  Albany,"  and  even  to  the  passing  of  the  lav\', 
so  that  its  operation  against  me  seems  to  be  peculiarly  hard.  If 
you  can  consistently  interfere  in  this  matter,  I  should  be  glad  you 
■would  state  it  to  the  Governor,  with  my  respectful  compliments. 
I  intend  to  write  to  him  upon  the  subject. 

Since  writing  the  above  I  have  a  letter  from  Dean  Tucker,  and 
I  flatter  myself  that  the  money  will  be  paid  without  new  powers ; 

48 


378  THE      LIFE      OF 

but  I  would  not  have  you  omit  sending  them,  as  new  difficulties 
may  be  started.  I  really  believe  the  Dean  is  ashamed  of  his  col- 
league's skepticism. 

I  have  seen  your  friend  Mr.  Vaughan  several  times.  I\Ir.  and 
Mrs.  Bingham  I  saw  at  Bath  last  April.  They  are  not  in  England 
now.     ]\Jy  respects  to  Mrs.  Jay.  ^ 

Yours  affectionately, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

FROM  JOHN  JAY. 

Philadelphia,  21st  Kov.,  1784. 
Dear  Sir  : 

In  order  to  reduce  to  a  certainty  the  substance  of  my  conver- 
sations with  the  Gov.  on  your  subject,  and  thereby  prevent  mis- 
understandings about  the  matter  in  case  of  his  death,  I  wrote  him 
a  letter,  (the  draft  of  which  I  accidentally  left  with  my  papers  in 
Jersey,)  to  which  I  received  a  few  days  ago  the  following  an- 
swer : 

"  A'ew-York,  8th  Kov.,  1784. 
"  Dear  Sir  : 

"  It  has  gave  me  much  pain,  that  I  have  not  been  able  to  an- 
swer your  letter  of  the  8th  ultimo  sooner.  I  have  not  had  a  mo- 
ment's leisure  to  do  it. 

*'  Should  the  proceedings  of  the  Commissioners  (under  the  law 
respecting  people  of  suspicious  and  equivocal  characters)  against 
Mr.  Peter  Van  Schaack,  subject  him  to  the  penalties  of  it,  on  his 
returning  to  the  State,  it  would  be  peculiarly  hard.  I  will  not 
venture  to  determine,  however,  that  this  would  not  be  the  case  on 
a  rigid  construction  of  the  law,  as  of  this  you  are  a  much  more 
competent  judge.  There  was  another  person,  viz.,  J\Ir.  Fletcher 
Matthews,  proceeded  against  under  it,  and  placed  in  the  same  situ- 
ation with  Mr.  Van  Schaack.  He  remains  in  the  country  without 
any  interruption,  and  from  this  it  is  to  be  presumed  he  is  not  con- 
sidered as  being  subject  to  the  penalty  of  it.  Both  these  gentle- 
men were  adjudged  by  the  Commissioners  to  be  sent  within  the 
British  lines  ;  but  were  detained  by  my  order  for  exchange.  There 
is  this  difference  only  in  their  cases.     Mr.  Matthews  continued  in 


PETER      VAN     S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  379 

the  country,  while  ^Ir.  Van  Schaack  was  permitted  to  go  (on  pa- 
role) to  England,  in  order  to  afTord  him  an  opportunity  of  having 
an  operation  performed  on  his  eye,  which  was  disordered.  This 
was  an  indulgence  he  had  applieil  to  me  for  previous  to  his  being 
summoned  by  the  Commissioners,  and  which  he  was  encouraged 
to  hope  would  have  been  granted,  as  it  most  certainly  would,  and 
it  is  a  circumstance  which,  aiklcd  to  his  having  behaved  while  on 
parole  as  a  man  of  honor  and  humanity,  will  induce  me  to  interest 
myself  in  his  favor. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  &c.,  &c., 

"  Geo.  Clinton." 

My  opinion,  upon  the  whole,  is,  that  you  consider  yourself  in 
the  same  light  that  the  Gov.  considers  you,  and  that  you  return  to 
this  country  as  soon  as  you  conveniently  can.  On  your  arrival 
such  further  steps  may  be  taken  as  circumstances  may  render  ex- 
pedient. 

Adieu,  my  dear  sir. 

Yours  sincerely, 

John  Jay. 

TO  PETER    SILVESTER. 

London,  2d  Feh'y,  1785. 
My  dear  Sir  : 

I  return  you  many  thanks  for  your  repeated  favors,  which  I 
have  received  down  to  the  15th  December.  The  long  and  interest- 
ing one  of  the  11th  Nov.,  and  my  sister's  of  the  same  date,  I  receiv- 
ed only  last  night,  under  cover  from  Harry,  superscribed  hy  Major 
Grey.  As  the  mail  goes  from  hence  this  evening,  I  shall  not  have 
time  to  give  you  my  opinion  on  the  questions  you  state,  but  shall 
reserve  it  for  the  next  opportunity. 

Your  kind  attention  to  my  little  concerns,  merits  my  thanks.  I 
am  satisfied  with  the  issue  of  Phillip's  cause  as  it  affects  me,  but 
not  as  it  affects  him,  poor  man.  As  to  Mrs.  Goes,  I  do  not  re- 
collect my  having  made  such  a  promise,  but  she  is  too  good  a  wo- 
man to  assert  an  untruth.  Relinquish  the  interest ;  and  give  up 
the  principal  too,  if  you  think  her  an  object.  I  have  several  times 
intended  to  have  given  a  hint  to  you,  to  distribute  some  money  for 
me  in  charity  to  proper  objects — let  this  be  a  charge  of  secret  ser- 


380  THE     LIFE     OF 

vice  money,  and  I  shall  never  call  you  to  account.  Providence 
has  been  kind  to  me,  and  let  me  not  be  ungrateful.  God  knows  I 
^vish  not  to  accumulate — a  decent  competency  is  all  I  aim  at.  I 
am  extremely  saving,  and  anxious  that  nothing  should  be  lost. 
But  my  general  frugality  1  would  make  the  source  of  my  private 
charity.  To  determine  a  proper  conduct  from  these  principles,  I 
wish  to  knoiv  the  extent  oi  my  finances,  and  to  keep  clear  accounts. 
To  my  debtors  I  would  be  very  lenient,  provided  they  are  punctual. 
That  will  be  useful  to  them,  as  it  is  essential  to  me.  To  such  of 
them  as  may  have  met  with  untoward  circumstances  and  have 
large  families,  you  may  give  up  one  half  of  the  interest  upon  their 
paying  the  other  half.  Do  in  all  this,  my  friend,  what  would 
p-ratify  your  oum  feelings  icere  you  in  my  situation.  T  would  never 
receive  a  shilling,  that  should  be  bathed  with  the  tears,  or  draw 
forth  a  sigh  from  a  worthy  unfortunate  man.  I  spend  very  little 
money  here  considering  the  many  enjoyments  I  have;  but  these 
are  of  the  social  kind.  My  savings  from  expensive  amusements, 
will  enable  me  to  distribute  my  mite  to  the  distressed.  Believe 
me  this  is  not  a  momentary  impulse,  but  my  settled  principle.  You 
know  my  circumstances  in  America;  from  hence  I  shall  indeed 
carry  very  little,  but  I  shall  go  free  from  debt.  If  God  in  his  in- 
fmite  mercy  vouchsafe  me  once  more  to  embrace  my  friends — but 
this  is  too  tender  a  subject — my  heart  and  my  eyes  too  are  too  full 
to  pursue  it. 

JMy  purpose  is  to  go  in  the  packet  of  May;  upon  my  arrival 
in  the  harbor,  I  shall  write  to  the  Governor;  and  if  the  answer  I 
receive  is  not  satisfactory,  I  shall  go  up  the  Sound  and  through 
Connecticut  into  Berkshire  county.  ]\Ir.  Jay,  who  has  written  to 
me  from  Philadelphia,  has  performed  the  offices  of  friendship. 
The  Governor,  too,  acts  a  manly,  consistent  part  in  a  letter  from 
him  to  Mr.  Jay,  but  I  wish  he  had  repeated  in  that  letter,  what  he 
told  me  in  August,  1778  ;  "  that  he  did  not  think  me  a  proper 
object  of  the  act,  by  color  of  which  I  was  proceeded  against,  for 
that  my  conduct  had  been  different  from  that  which  was  the  object 
of  the  act ;  that  my  character  was  not  equivocal  or  suspicious,  but 
well  understood  ;  for,  that  though  averse  to  the  public  measures, 
and  as  such  I  had  been  put  under  parole,  yet  having  never  viola- 
ted that  parole,  he  would  consider  me  as  a  British  prisoner."     Of 


PETER     VAN     S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  38 1 

all  the  mortifying  things  I  have  met  with,  the  preamble  of  that  act 
has  been  the  greatest;  for  it  describes  characters  so  odious,  so  con- 
temptible, that  if  I  thoui^ht  it  was  in  any  degree  applicable  to  me, 
I  should  despise  myself!  1  remember  -Mr.  Jeremiah  Van  Rensselaer 
said  some  civil  things  to  me  also,  and  I  believe  none  of  the  Com- 
missioners thought  me  within  the  spirit  of  the  act. 

As  to  what  you  say  of  Major  Goes'  inquiries,  let  me  beg  you 
will  present  my  compliments  to  him.  I  bear  enmity  to  no  man 
existing;  and  however  it  may  sound  in  the  ears  of  some  of  my 
friends,  yet  to  you,  who  know^  me  to  be  incapable  of  a  time- 
serving conduct,  I  will  say  that  all  he  has  done  against  me,  is  far 
overbalanced  by  what  he  might  have  done,  but  did  not ;  and  that 
I  am  ready  to  shake  him  by  the  hand  with  cordiality,  and  perfect 
oblivion  of  the  past.  No  part  of  my  conduct  shall  have  retrospect 
to  the  transactions  of  the  war.  What  is  there  in  this  life  of  conse- 
quence enough  to  call  forth  the  malignant  passions  of  envy,  hatred, 
revenge  and  malice  ?  "  Devil  with  devil  damn'd,  firm  concord 
holds,  men  only  disagree  of  creatures  rational  and  under  hope  of 
heavenly  bliss,"  &c. 

My  dearest  Lydia  !  how  sincerely  do  I  congratulate  you  all 
upon  her  marriage.  She  must  not  think  hard  of  my  not  having 
written  to  her  upon  the  important  occasion.  My  absence  from 
London,  and  my  numerous  engagements  in  it,  leave  me  very  little 
time,  especially  considering  the  state  of  my  poor  eyes.  I  hear  a 
most  favorable  character  of  Mr.  Wyncoop,  and  he  may  rely  on  my 
friendship  as  long  as  he  behaves  with  tenderness  to  my  dear  niece, 
and  that  I  trust  will  be  as  long  as  she  lives.  Tell  Lydia  she  must 
read  some  of  the  papers  in  the  Spectator  upon  the  duties  and  con- 
duct of  a  wife.  When  I  see  her,  I  will  illustrate  them  by  some 
instances  within  my  own  experience.  I  have  seen  a  wonderful 
variety  of  characters,  as  you  may  suppose,  in  this  length  of  time. 
My  heart  has  sometimes  been  a  little  touched,  but  not  much 
wounded.  In  x\merica  1  would  wish  to  form  a  connection,  if  ever 
I  should  again  become  a  family  man. 

I  will  send  you  some  of  the  best  books  of  practice,  which  is 
very  intricate  in  the  courts  of  Westminster  Hall ;  and  after  all,  is 
to  be  acquired  only  by  experience.  'Tis  difficult  to  comprehend  it 
from  reading.     Werel  a  judge  in  America,  I  would  pay  very  little 


382  THELIFEOF 

regard  to  authorities  in  this  way,  for  the  refinements  of  an  old 
country  like  this,  cannot  be  proper  for  a  young  one  like  ours. 
Lord  IMansfield,  whose  abilities,  notwithstanding  his  advanced 
age,  still  continue  to  astonish  the  world,  has  cut  up  by  the  roots 
many  of  the  ainces  litigandi — the  quibbles  of  the  law.  But  new 
evasions  and  subterfuges  will  be  invented,  as  new  rules  are  intro- 
duced.   The  attorneys  swarm  in  this  country,  and  indeed  feed  upon 

the  vitals  of  it.    Chicanery  and  v y  are  the  only  means  by  which 

many  support  themselves.  It  has  been  computed  that  thirty  thou- 
sand persons  are  maintained  by  the  law  in  London,  and  within  the 
bills  of  mortality.  The  Inns  of  Court  are  like  little  towns. 
You  can  have  no  conception  of  this  great  town,  without  supposing 
every  tree  between  Kinderhook  and  the  landing*  a  house ;  and 
every  leaf  a  human  being.  This  you  will  say  is  a  hyperbole  indeed  ; 
still,  without  being  able  to  conceive  the  possibility  of  the  one,  you 
can  hardly  conceive  the  actual  state  of  the  other.  I  will  try  to 
find  out  Doctor  Silvester,  at  Doctor's  Commons :  there,  too,  the 
black-gown  gentry  swarm  like  crows. 

Continue,  my  dear  sir,  and  my  dear  Jenny,  to  support  and  soothe 
our  aged  mother.  That  is  another  heart-breaking  subject.  Heaven 
preserve  you  all !  P.  V.  S. 

TO  PETER  SILVESTER. 

London,  22d  Feb.,  1785. 
My  dear  Sir  : 

By  Mr.  Mullet,  who  sailed  in  this  month's  packet,  T  wrote  you 
a  letter  in  which  I  acknowledged  the  receipt  of  your  agreeable  fa- 
vors of  November  and  December.  I  also  wrote  to  you  or  David 
by  every  conveyance  since  my  return  from  Yorkshire  in  November 
last.  Permit  me  to  recommend  the  contents  of  those  letters  to 
your  attention,  and  to  request  a  compliance  with  the  several  requests 
I  made  in  them,  respecting  my  little  concerns. 

After  revolving  the  subject  of  my  ill-fated  eyes  a  thousand 
times,  I  have  concluded  to  undergo  the  operation  before  I  leave 
England,  and  from  the  inquiries  I  have  made,  I  have  reason  to 
hope  for  relief;  but  unfortunately  Baron  Winzell  is  at  Paris  and 

*  A  distance  of  five  miles. 


P  E  T  K  11      VAN      S  C  II  A  A  C  K  .  3S3 

does  not  come  to  England  till  May.  I  must  tlierefoie  go  to  lilrn 
or  postpone  my  embarkation.  Believe  me,  this  is  a  distressing 
alternative — but  how  can  I  help  it  ?  Will  anybody  be  so  cruel, 
as  to  charge  me  with  mutability  or  unsteadiness  ?  I  am  much 
inclined  to  go  to  Paris,  but  to  be  entirely  among  strangers  in  such 
a  critical  situation,  not  to  mention  the  ackhtional  expense  of  travel- 
ling, &€.,  is  a  serious  subject.  The  operation  alone  will  cost  me 
sixty  guineas  at  least,  perhaps  a  hundred  or  a  hundred  and  ten.  I 
will  not  dwell  upon  this  subject ;  surely  my  friends  can  anticipate 
all  I  could  say  upon  it,  by  placing  themselves  for  a  moment  in  my 
situation. 

As  to  your  question  about  the  regularity  of  the  practice,  of  a 
plaintiff's  filing  common  bail  for  defendant  after  he  had  signed  a 
bail-bond,  but  neglected  giving  special  bail,  I  am  very  clear  that 
the  judgment  ought  to  be  set  aside.  The  reasons  you  assign  in 
favor  of  it,  may  weigh  for  the  introduction  of  a  general  rule ;  but 
till  such  a  general  rule  is  established,  the  plaintiff  has,  by  the 
acetiaiTif  precluded  himself  from  taking  such  a  step ;  nor  can  he,  I 
think,  in  the  progress  of  the  suit,  deviate  from  the  course  in  which 
he  commenced  it.  The  filing  common  bail  for  defendant  depends 
upon  an  act  of  Parliament,  and  can  be  practised  only  in  the 
instances  mentioned  in  the  statute.  It  appears  to  me  like  a  trick 
and  a  surprise  upon  defendant,  who  could  not  suppose  that  the 
plaintiff  would  begin  his  suit  in  one  way,  and  pursue  it  in  another. 

You  wdll  find  it  extremely  difficult  to  apply  the  rules  of  prac- 
tice in  the  courts  of  Westminster  Hall  to  the  courts  in  America  ; 
and  even  to  understand  the  authorities  in  the  books,  general  prin- 
ciples only  should  be  regarded.  To  prevent  chicanery  and  trick, 
and  to  enable  the  parties  to  come  fairly  to  trial  of  the  merits, 
seems  to  be  Lord  Mansfield's  fundamental  principle  in  expounding 
the  rules  of  practice.  The  resemblance  of  your  Supreme  Court  to 
the  courts  of  Westminster  Hall,  and  of  your  inferior  courts  to  the 
inferior  courts  in  England,  is  very  slight  indeed,  and  if  you  attempt 
to  draw  a  parallel,  you  will  introduce  endless  confusion  into  your 
practice.  Look  at  the  very  commencement  of  an  action  here,  and 
with  you  'j  and  see  in  what  they  resemble  each  other.  Here,  it  is 
in  many  cases  of  very  material  consequence  whether  the  suit  is 
commenced  by  bill,  or  original :  e.  g.,  in  case  of  outlawry,  you 


384  THE       LIFE      OF 

cannot  proceed  unless  the  suit  is  by  itrif,  that  is,  original :  you 
know  of  no  such  distinction ;  and,  indeed,  if  here  they  retain  the 
shadow  after  the  substance  is  gone,  why  should  you  do  so  ? 

I  had  heard  of  the  case  of  Rutgers  and  Waddington.  I  thought 
the  charge  a  little  extraordinary,  though  I  do  not  presume  to  con- 
demn it.  It  is  a  little  remarkable  that  something  like  the  Major's 
charge  was  advanced  by  Lord  Mansfield  in  a  case  tried  here  in  B. 
R.  wherein  Carmer  sued  the  chief  engineer  for  the  rent  of  his  house 
at  New-York,  occupied  in  the  public  survice.  His  lordship,  I  am 
told,  held  that  New-York  was  a  conquered  town,  and  the  com- 
mander-in-chief has  a  right  to  the  use  of  every  house  in  the  city, 
if  required  for  the  purposes  of  the  troops ;  if  any  allowance  was 
made  to  the  owner  it  was  an  act  of  favor,  not  ex  debito  jystitice. 
On  the  other  hand  Lord  North  and  Mr.  Eden,  in  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, held  a  doctrine  on  another  occasion  not  unlike  that  of  the 
Assembly,  viz.,  "  That  a  jwsilive  law  of  this  country,  is  not  done 
away  by  any  treaty  with  another  country,  till  it  is  repealed." 

I  have  somehow  or  another  mislaid  your  several  queries,  &c. 
But  if  I  understand  the  case  on  the  will,  the  devise  was  clearly  an 
estate  tail,  but  that  species  of  estates  being  abolished  among  you, 
it  W'ill  now  be  a  fee.  "  Devise  to  T.  G.  for  his  natural  hfe,  and 
after  his  decease  to  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  and  for  want  of 
such  heirs  to  T.  E.  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  T.  G.  has  only 
an  estate  tail."  Per  Lord  Mansfield.  If  I  remember  your  case 
right,  this  is  in  point.  The  abolition  of  estates  tail  among  you,  is, 
I  think,  a  wise  measure,  consistent  with  the  spirit  of  a  Republic. 

I  am  so  fatigued  with  writing  on  business,  that  you  must  apolo- 
gize for  me  to  my  correspondents,  young  and  old — to  ray  dear  Ly- 
dia  especially.  My  heart  is  with  you  all  !  But  my  poor  eyes  must 
be  spared,  and  deserve  more  favor  than  they  receive,  in  spite  of  all 
the  suggestions  of  prudence.  A  few  months  will  decide  my  fate, 
and  determine  my  future  views  in  life  !  A  few  months,  but  long  and 
tedious  will  they  be,  in  such  a  state  of  suspense.  Heaven  bless  you 
all.     To  my  mother,  say  every  thing  that  is  tender  and  dutiful. 

Yours  affectionately, 
P.  V.  S. 


P  E  T  E  K      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  r:  K  .  385 


C  II  A  1^  T  i:  U    X  V  1  I  I . 

Mr.  Van  Schaack's  return  to  America  had  now  been  postponed 
for  several  years,  partly  through  fear  of  proceedings  against  him 
under  the  banishing  act,  and  from  apprehensions  excited  by  the 
severities  of  his  countrymen  as  indicated  by  the  legislation  of  his 
native  State,  and  partly  in  consequence  of  the  condition  of  his 
eyes.  He  retained  the  use  of  the  left  eye,  which  had  been  tempo- 
rarily affected  in  September,  1780,  but  the  sight  of  the  other  w^as 
entirely  gone.  The  apprehension  that  an  experiment  upon  the 
diseased  eye,  if  unsuccessful,  might  occasion  the  loss  of  the  other 
through  sympathy,  rendered  the  policy  of  an  operation  a  matter 
for  serious  consideration,  and  left  him  in  a  state  of  suspense  and 
painful  anxiety  for  many  years.  Having  been  advised  that  the 
operation  could  be  performed  at  New-York,  he  finally  determined 
to  leave  England  without  undergoing  it,  and  he  made  his  arrange- 
ments accordingly.  His  heart  now  beat  high  in  the  prospect  of 
soon  meeting  his  numerous  connections  and  friends  in  America, 
after  so  long  a  separation,  and  under  circumstances  of  such  painful 

interest. 

TO  HIS  SON. 

London,  May,  1785. 
At  length,  my  dear  Harry,  the  happy  day  is  approaching, 
which  will  put  an  end  to  our  separation.  In  a  little  time  after  you 
receive  this,  I  trust  I  shall  embrace  you  in  our  native  country.  I 
shall  sail  the  4th  or  5th  of  June,  from  Falmouth,  where  I  shall  be 
two  hundred  and  seventy  miles  on  my  way  from  London  to  New- 
York.  Your  feelings,  upon  this  occasion,  I  flatter  myself  correspond 
with  mine ;  indeed,  I  can  hardly  suppress  my  emotions  at  the  bare 
idea  of  this  happy  event,  after  an  absence  of  near  seven  years.  I 
think,  my  dear  boy,  that  the  remembrance  of  your  features  is  so 
strongly  imprinted  on  my  mind,  that  I  shall  easily  recognise  you; 
but  Buck  and  Betsey  will  be  strangers  indeed.  You  shall  introduce 
us  to  each  other. 

49 


386  THE      LIFE      OF 

It  is  my  intention,  my  dear  son,  that  you  and  I  shall  he  much 
together.  It  depends  on  you,  to  make  me  one  of  the  happiest  of 
men.  I  shall  treat  you  with  the  utmost  confidence,  and  hope  you 
will  behave  to  me  with  unreserved  freedom.  Don't  think  I  expect 
too  much  of  you  as  to  your  learning.  I  am  disposed  to  make  every 
allowance  in  this  case,  and  I  almost  wish  you  may  be  rather  back- 
ward in  your  improvements,  that  I  may  have  the  pleasure  of  assist- 
ing" you  to  repair  the  defects.  If  you  are  very  learned,  what  will 
be  left  for  me  to  do  ?  I  have  another  reason  why  I  wish  you  may 
not  be  too  deep  in  your  studies, — because  I  flatter  myself  you  have 
devoted  much  of  your  attention  to  the  cultivation  of  the  amiable 
qualities  of  the  heart.  To  find  you  a  virtuous  youth,  and  pleasing 
in  your  manners,  open,  candid  and  unreserved,  is  the  utmost  of  my 
wish — to  make  you  a  sensible  and  even  learned  man,  you  have  yet 
time,  amply  enough.  If,  in  the  course  of  a  long  exile,  I  have 
collected  any  materials  that  may  be  made  beneficial  to  you,  what 
pleasing  reflections  will  it  afford  me  !  Qui  mores  hominum  mul- 
torum  vidit  et  urbes,  I  may  in  some  measure  apply  to  myself, 
though  my  travels  have  by  no  means  been  so  extensive  as  I  could 
have  wished,  for  various  reasons.  I  have,  however,  not  been  alto- 
gether idle,  and  you  shall  have  the  fruits  of  my  industry.  Sic  vos  non 
vobis  mellificatis,  apes :  however  this  is  not  true  in  one  sense  as  applied 
to  me,  for  in  serving  you  I  shall  most  essentially  gratify  myself. 

As  I  have  told  you  in  a  former  letter,  I  have  already  introduced 
you  to  all  my  most  esteemed  friends ;  and  if  you  should  come  to 
this  country,  you  will  at  once  have  a  number  of  acquaintances  who 
will,  I  am  confident,  be  glad  to  see  you,  from  their  kind  partiality 
to  your  father.  Your  prospects  in  life,  my  dear  Harry,  are  such  as 
should  make  you  thankful  to  Providence,  and  the  best  method  of 
manifesting  such  a  disposition,  and  at  the  same  time  to  realize 
those  prospects,  is  to  cultivate  not  only  the  faculties  of  your  mind, 
but  the  pleasing  and  endearing  qualities  of  your  heart. 

I  send  over  two  saddles,  bridles,  &c.,  for  you  and  me.  They 
are  plain,  which  will  be  no  objection  to  you,  as  I  am  pleased  to 
hear  that  you  have  nothing  of  the  fop  or  macaroni  in  your 
appearance.  I  hope  you  will  not  expect  presents,  and  that  you 
will  be  suflficiently  happy  in  meeting  me  w^ithout  any  such  sort  of 
recommendation.     You  shall  have  all  you  can  wish,  and  New-York 


?  E  T  K  R      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  387 

will  afTord  llie  means  of  supplying  you.  Perhaps  the  litlle  ones 
will  expect  some  memorials  of  my  love,  and  you  must  assist  rne 
w^hen  I  get  to  New- York  to  gratify  them.  My  behavior  to  a 
young  gentleman  like  you,  and  to  children  like  them,  must  be  very 
different,  while  my  affection  for  all  is  the  same.  I  expect  much 
assistance  from  you  wnth  respect  to  these  dear,  dear  little  objects  of 
our  common  love,  and  let  me  add,  my  dear  Harry,  of  our  common 
charge,  for  which  your  more  advanced  years  will  qualify  you.  I 
have  a  thousand  things  to  say  to  you,  upon  these  very  important 
subjects,  but  your  imagination  will  supply  what  I  have  not  time 
to  particularize,  until  the  joyful  day  of  our  meeting.  May  the 
Almighty  continue  his  gracious  protection  of  you  all,  is  the  fervent 
and  constant  prayer  of 

Your  truly  affectionate  father,  and  most  sincere  friend, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

I  have,  I  believe,  heretofore  hinted  to  you  my  wish  that  you 
should  study  the  law.  I  hope  this  will  coincide  w^ith  your  own 
inclination.  You  wall  have  advantages  which  do  not  fall  to  the 
lot  of  every  young  gentleman,  and  I  mean  you  should  pursue  this 
study  upon  liberal  principles,  and  not  like  a  pettifogging  attorney. 
It  is  a  noble  science,  when  studied  as  such.  Be  assured  you  will 
like  it.  If  you  give  me  this  proof  of  your  acquiescence  in  my 
opinion,  you  will  make  our  meeting  doubly  happy. 

Though  I  have  lamented  our  long  separation  as  one  of  the  most 
painful  circumstances,  as  they  affect  my  private  feelings,  yet,  with 
a  view  to  your  impovement,  perhaps  all  is  for  the  best.  I  am  a 
little  of  an  optimist;  how  are  you  in  that  respect  ?  One  thing  be 
assured  of,  that  I  shall  convince  you  of  the  propriety  of  every  year's 
absence,  prolonged  as  I  have  prolonged  it  time  after  time,  and  that 
I  could  not  have  returned  one  year  sooner  w^ithout  deviating  from 
that  line  of  conduct,  and  that  consistency  of  character,  which  I  owe 
not  only  to  myself,  but  to  you.  I  say  to  you,  for  am  I  not  bound 
to  act  from  principles,  and  to  afford  you  an  example,  which  may 
be  w^orthy  of  your  adoption  and  of  your  imitation  t  I  shall  con- 
vince you  that  1  am  not  one  of  those  austere  fathers,  who  think 
that  the  parental  and  filial  duties  are  all  on  one  side.  The  tender 
friend,  and  not  the  arbitrary  dictator,  shall  characterize  my  con- 
duct. Pleasing  theme !  But  I  must  quit  it.  Heaven  preserve  you, 
my  beloved  boy  ! . 


388  THE     LIFE     OF 


TO  JANE  SILVESTER. 

London,  1th  May,  1785. 
My  dearest  Sister  : 

I  snatch  a  few  minutes,  to  indulge  the  tender  affection  of  my 
heart  in  writing  to  you,  probably  the  last  letter  you  will  ever  re- 
ceive from  rae  dated  in  England.  I  shall  embark  in  about  four 
\veeks  from  this  day,  and  in  a  little  time  after  this  comes  to  your 
hands,  I  trust  we  shall  have  a  happy  meeting  at  Kinderhook.  My 
mother  ! — there  is  my  apprehension  ;  but  I  indulge  hopes  of  once 
more  seeing  her.     My  heart  melts  at  the  idea. 

Let  me  not  lose  this  opportunity  of  thanking  you,  ray  dear  and 
beloved  sister,  for  all  your  goodness  to  my  children.  Harry's  let- 
ters convince  me  that  he  w^ill  never  forget  it,  and  his  grateful  heart 
endears  him  to  me.  I  hope  he  will  consider  his  cousins  as  his  own 
brothers  and  sisters.  You  must  mention  me  in  the  most  affection- 
ate manner  to  all  my  family  connections,  and  assure  them  I  shall 
carry  over  a  heart  full  of  love  for  them — a  heart  unaltered  by 
length  of  time  or  distance.  They  will  not,  I  hope,  expect  any 
thing  more.  I  reproach  myself  for  not  writing  to  my  dear  Lydia. 
Her  change  of  situation  made  me  design  more  than  a  common  let- 
ter to  her.  But  I  trust  she  does  not  want  any  advice.  Her  hap- 
piness depends  on  herself;  and  so  good  a  heart  as  hers  is,  will  in- 
duce her  to  improve  her  present  condition  to  its  best  advantage,  by 
cultivating  the  duties  it  imposes  on  her,  and  the  discharge  of  which 
rewards  themselves. 

To  Mr.  Silvester  I  shall  not  write  by  this  conveyance.     Adieu, 
dearest  sister ! 

Yours  ever  affectionately,  P.  V.  S. 


The  reader  cannot  fail  to  have  remarked  the  beautiful  vein  of 
sensibility  and  affection,  which  runs  throughout  all  Mr.  Van 
Schaack's  letters  to  his  connections  in  America,  and  particularly 
the  tenderness  and  solicitude  manifested  in  regard  to  his  aged 
mother.  This  was  reciprocal ;  and  it  was  from  her  he  had  inher- 
ited that  refmed  sensibility  which  marked  his  character.  In  a 
letter  to  him  from  his  little  son,  the  latter  remarks:  "My  grand- 
mamma sheds  many  a  tear  for  you,  and  so  do  I;"  and  another  of 
his  young  correspondents  writes :  "  I  am  sensible  you  are  touched 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  389 

to  the  heart  when  the  least  mention  is  made  of  your  mother.  Every 
letter  that  you  have  written  proves  the  truth  of  this  assertion,  and 
whenever  you  are  spoken  of  she  sheds  a  tear."  His  prolonged  ab- 
sence was  her  constant  theme ;  and  it  was  her  ardent  prayer  that 
she  might  be  permitted  to  see  her  favorite  son  once  more  on  this 
side  of  the  grave;  but  Providence  ordered  otherwise. 

On  the  second  day  of  June,  1785,  he  set  out  from  London  for 
Falmouth,  at  which  place  he  embarked  on  the  10th,  in  the  Prince 
"William  Henry  packet,  and  landed  at  New-York  on  the  twentieth 
July.  The  first  tidings  he  received,  on  his  arrival  in  his  native 
country,  was  of  an  unpleasant  character,  and  put  his  fortitude  to  a 
severe  trial ; — the  death  of  his  mother,  who  had  departed  this  life 
about  the  time  he  left  England. 

TO  JANE  SILVESTER.* 
My  dear  Sister  : 

Before  now  you  have  doubtless  heard  of  my  arrival  in  my  na- 
tive country.  What  a  shock  I  received,  and  how  much  my  joy 
was  abated  by  the  first  news  I  heard,  your  affectionate  heart  will 
easily  conceive.  I  had  prepared  myself  as  well  as  I  could,  and 
thought  I  should  have  borne  the  painful  tidings  with  some  degree 
of  composure.  But  I  w^as  mistaken,  and  I  was  complttely  miser- 
able. How  fervently  did  I  pray,  on  the  passage,  for  one  tender 
embrace  before  our  final  separation  ;  but  it  has  pleased  God  to 
order  it  otherwise,  and  we  must  submit.  jNIy  mind  is  so  engaged 
by  a  thousand  different  objects,  that  I  really  know  not  what  I  am 
about.  I  want  a  few"  days  leisure  to  collect  my  thoughts,  and  my 
spirits,  and  then  I  hope  I  shall  find  myself  happier  and  more  com- 
posed. I  almost  dread  to  see  you  all.  May  God  grant  me  firm- 
ness to  bear  all  the  shocks  I  must  encounter,  and  a  thankful  heart 
for  the  blessings  he  vouchsafes  me,  in  restoring  me  to  the  friends 
who  remain ! 

As  my  friends  have  recommended  my  staying  in  this  place  a 
few  days  longer,  as  a  matter  of  prudence,  which  will  contribute  to 
my  peaceable  establishment  in  future,  I  have  yielded  to  it ;  and 
the  rather,  because,  my  dear  sister,  you  will  easily  suppose  my  im- 

*  This  letter  is  without  date,  but  was  written  from  New- York,  upon  his 
arrival  in  that  city. 


390  THE     LIFE     OF 

patience  to  get  to  Kinderhook  has  received  no  small  check  from 
the  distressing  tidings  I  met  with  on  my  first  arrival.  I  assure  you 
I  am  hardly  in  a  frame  of  mind  yet  to  go  through  the  agitation  I 
expect  to  feel  in  meeting  with  my  dear,  dear  friends.  It  is  my 
present  purpose  to  set  out  next  Friday,  or  Saturday.  Should  I 
alter  it,  you  will  hear  from  me  again  ;  otherwise  not.  My  dear  boy 
is  now  wdth  me.  He  answers  my  warmest  expectations.  If  he  is 
as  good  as  he  gives  me  every  reason  to  believe  him,  how  thankful 
ought  I  to  be,  and  instead  of  repining  at  my  not  being  still  more 
happy,  my  heart  should  overflow^  with  gratitude  for  what  I  do 
enjoy. 

Mr.  Jay  has  behaved  like  a  true  friend.  He  came  on  board  the 
ship  immediately,  brought  me  on  shore,  took  me  to  the  Governor's, 
Chief  Justice's,  &c.,  and  seems  determined  to  do  every  thing  for  me 
that  he  can.  All  descriptions  of  people  show  me  every  attention 
and  kindness.  I  should  be  the  happiest  of  men,  if  I  could  forget 
one  thing. 

My  tenderest  love  to  all  friends. 

My  dearest  sister,  yours,  .  P.  V.  S. 

On  the  thirtieth  of  July,  Mr.  Van  Schaack  took  passage  in  a 
sloop  for  Kinderhook,  where  he  arrived  on  the  third  day  of  Au- 
gust, and  embraced  his  friends  !  A  lapse  of  tw^elve  days  more 
would  have  completed  seven  years  since  he  had  taken  leave  of 
those  friends,  and  of  the  place  of  his  nativity,  for  a  foreign  land, 
under  the  trying  circumstances  which  have  been  detailed.  His 
own  feelings  on  this  joyful  occasion,  will  readily  be  anticipated  by 
the  reader,  who,  in  the  course  of  these  pages,  has  been  made  ac- 
quainted w^ith  a  heart  susceptible  of  the  liveliest  emotions  of  sensi- 
bility and  affection, — submissive  in  adversity,  and  ever  grateful  for 
mercies  received. 

His  return  to  his  native  country  was  hailed  by  men  of  all  par- 
ties; and  all  arms  were  now  opened  to  receive  him  wuth  a  hearty 
welcome.  Under  ordinary  circumstances,  his  moral  worth,  his 
high  professional  standing,  and  his  literary  and  classical  attain- 
ments, would  have  secured  for  him  every  respectful  attention.  But 
the  circumstances  under  which  he  had  been  compelled  to  leave  his 
native  country,  were  well  calculated  to  excite  the  sympathy  of  all 


PETE  II     VAN     SCHAACK.  391 

who  liad  heard  of  his  case ;  and  they  iinpartod  a  peculiar  in- 
terest to  his  return  from  a  long  exile.  He  had  just  returned, 
also,  from  Kngland, — a  name  which  had  not  entirely  lost  its  pristine 
charm,— the  once  "  mother  countri/,^''  and  the  once  tenderly  regard- 
ed "  homCy'' — the  attachments  to  which  had  not  been  entirely  era- 
dicated, by  the  unnatural  war : — a  country  whose  people  spoke 
the  same  language,  whose  ancestral  blood  coursed  the  same  veins, 
and  whose  early  glories  and  achievements  were  their  common  pro- 
perty. And  although  all  political  connection  between  the  "  mo- 
ther" and  her  offspring  was  now  dissolved,  yet  the  former,  in  her 
common  law,  in  the  decisions  of  her  courts,  and  in  many  of  her 
other  institutions  of  civil  polity,  was  yet  to  furnish  models  and  pre- 
cedents to  the  rising  Republic  ;  while  their  commercial  intercourse, 
as  interest  and  sagacity  already  indicated,  was  destined  to  become 
reciprocally  beneficial. 

Mr.  Van  Schaack's  society  was  sought  after  with  avidity.     He 
had  spent  six  years  in  England,  during  a  most  momentous  crisis  in 
her  history,  and  one  replete  with  interest  to  every  American.     To 
the  man  of  general  information,  his  company  was  more  than  accep- 
table ;  for  he  had  brought  with  him  a  rich  store  of  valuable  infor- 
mation, derived  from  personal  observation  of  her  institutions,  laws, 
antiquities,  customs,  curiosities  and  manners,  made  with  enlarged 
views,    and   an    unprejudiced    mind.     To    the  politician    and  the 
statesman,  he  was  an  object  of  peculiar  interest.     He  had  been  a 
spectator  of  various  moving  scenes,  which  convulsed  to  dissolution 
the  British  Cabinet,  and  of  others,  which  threatened  her  capital 
with  riotous  destruction.     He  had   attended  the  debates  in  Parlia- 
ment on  American  affairs,  when  the  walls  of  St.  Stephen's  resounded 
the  thundering  bursts  of  eloquence  from  the  lips  of  the  indefati- 
gable Charles  James  Fox,  and  the  labored  and  philosophical  argu- 
mentations of  the  gigantic  Burke.     The  student  of  eloquence  could 
imbibe  fresh  lessons  of  excellence,  and  receive  a  new  stimulus  to 
his  own  ambition,  from  the  conversations  of  one  who  had   been 
present  at  the  early  efforts  of  Erskine  in  the  forum,  of  Sheridan 
and  Pitt*  in  the  senate,  and  to  whose  ears   the  "  honied  accents" 
of  the  eloquent  Murray  (now  Lord  Mansfield)  were  familiar. 

♦  Mr.  V.  S.  had  the  rare  good  fortune  to  hear  speeches  Iroin  boili  Fox  and 
Pitt  on  the  same  day. 


392  THE     LIFE      OF 

His  dio-nified  and  imposing  personal  appearance  and  manly 
beauty,  accompanied  by  his  unaffected  politeness  and  elegance  of 
manners,  and  recommended  by  a  mind  enriched  by  study  and 
foreign  travel,  and  by  a  taste  at  once  refined  and  cultivated,  secured 
for  him  the  admiration  of  the  fairer  portion  of  society,  and  rendered 
him  at  all  times  a  welcome  visitor  in  the  social  circle. 

The  scholar  sought  the  society  of  one  who,  himself  a  model  of 
classical  scholarship,  had  visited  England's  famed  public  schools 
and  universities  of  learning ;  who  had  commingled  his  own  learn- 
ing and  wisdom  with  those  of  the  renowned  gownsmen  of  Oxford 
and  Cambridge,  and  who,  in  the  society  and  intellectual  converse 
of  England's  scholars  and  philosophers,  had  imbibed  fresh  draughts 
from  the  "  Pierian  spring,"  whose  depths  he  had  before  sounded. 
But,  above  all,  no  one's  presence  and  conversation  could  be  more 
acceptable  to  American  lawyers  than  that  of  an  individual  distin- 
guished in  their  own  ranks,  who  had  personally  attended  the  courts 
of  Westminster  Hall ; — who  had  there  witnessed  the  displays  of 
the  bright  "  luminaries  of  the  law  and  of  eloquence,"  and  had 
heard  that  law  expounded  from  the  lips  of  the  great  Lord  Mansfield. 

These  circumstances  combined  to  render  Mr.  Van  Schaack  an 
object  of  great  interest  through  life.^ 


* 


*  The  mere  fact  that  Mr,  Van  Schaack  had  seen  so  many  characters  dis- 
tinguished in  literature,  in  the  arts  and  sciences,  in  politics,  in  the  church 
and  in  the  law, — with  some  of  whom  he  had  an  acquaintance,  and  respect- 
ing many  of  whom  he  could  relate  interesting  anecdotes, — was  sufficient  to 
excite  attention.  He  had  seen  Mrs.  Siddons  upon  the  stage,  and  had  en- 
joyed the  society  of  Hannah  More.  He  had  heard  all  the  distinguished 
speakers  in  the  courts  and  in  Parliament.  Lindley  Murray  was  his  partic- 
ular friend,  and  he  had  been  in  the  company  of  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds,  and  of 
the  "literary  colossus,''  Samuel  Johnson.  He  was  in  London  during  Lord 
George  Gordon's  riots,  and  through  the  changes  of  the  ministry.  He  had 
witnessed  the  downfall  of  one  set  of  cabinet  ministers,  from  their  hostility  to 
America — the  abrupt  secession  of  another — the  dissolution  of  a  third — the 
grand  coalition  which  formed  the  fourth,  and  which  was  itself  soon  after  dis- 
missed by  royal  interposition,  making  shipwreck  of  the  political  reputations 
of  some  of  the  greatest  statesmen  in  the  empire  ;  and  he  had  participated  in 
the  interesting  discussions  to  which  these  political  revolutions  gave  rise. 
With  the  venerable  edifices,  the  numerous  attractions  and  local  curiosities 
with  which  London  and  its  vicinage  abound,  he  was  also  familiar. 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  393 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

It  is  not  known  that  any  impediments  were  interposed,  on  Mr. 
Van  Schaack's  return  to  his  native  country,  to  his  resuming  his  resi- 
dence in  the  State  of  New-York.  The  author  is  also  uninformed 
as  to  the  nature  of  those  proceedings  which  took  place  between 
Governor  Clinton,  Chief  Justice  Morris,  Mr.  Jay  and  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  during  the  ten  days  the  latter  remained  in  the  city  of 
New-York,  after  his  arrival  in  this  country,  and  which  proceedings 
are  referred  to  by  him  in  his  letter  to  his  sister,  as  calculated  to 
"  contribute  to  his  peaceable  establishment  in  future."  A  con- 
viction for  misprision  of  treason  under  the  banishing  act,  depended 
on  a  return  to  the  State;  but  as  the  Treaty  of  Peace  contained  a 
stipulation  digcimst  future  prosecutions,  a  further  proceeding  under 
the  act  by  which  Mr.  Van  Schaack  was  proscribed,  would  seem  to 
be  repugnant  to  that  instrument.*  And  yet  it  appears  by  the  Jour- 
nals of  the  Legislature,  in  the  case  of  an  individual  who  had  been 
sent  within  the  British  lines  for  refusing  to  comply  with  the  requi- 
sitions of  the  act  of  30th  June,  1778,  and  who,  in  March,  1786, 
applied  to  the  Legislature  for  permission  to  return  to  the  State, 
that  he  was  only  allowed  to  return  for  a  short  time,  to  enable  him 
to  arrange  some  private  affairs.  And  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Van 
Schaack,  as  appears  by  Governor  Clinton's  letter  to  Mr.  Jay,  and 
the  other  proceedings  referred  to,  the  constituted  authorities  were 
in  doubt  as  to  the  law.  It  will  hereafter  appear,  that  a  statute 
was  eventually  passed,  in  which  his  name  was  specially  introduced, 
restoring  him  to  the  rights  of  citizenship. 

But,  whatever  may  have  been  the  proper  construction  of  the 

*  See  Appendix  L,  for  6th  Article  of  Treaty  of  17S3.  On  the  22cl  of  Feb- 
ruary, 1788,  the  legislature  of  New-York  passed  an  act,  in  pursuance  of  a 
general  recommendation  of  Congress  to  all  the  States,  repealing  all  laws  in- 
consistent with  the  treaty  of  peace. 

50 


394  THE     LIFE      OF 

statute  in  question,  in  its  connection  with  the  treaty  of  peace,  as  it 
respected  his  case,  it  is  not  beheved  that  the  disposition  existed,  in 
any  quarter,  to  molest  him.  In  view  of  some  of  the  severe  laws 
which  had  been  passed  by  the  New-York  Legislature,  the  appre- 
hensions which  he  had  expressed,  in  his  letters  from  England,  were 
natural.  It  would,  no  doubt,  also  have  been  very  gratifying  to  his 
feelings,  to  have  been  recalled  from  his  exile,  in  a  suitable  manner, 
by  the  public  authorities.  The  intimation  to  this  effect  in  his  letter 
to  his  brother  of  10th  of  July,  1784,  was  not  dictated  by  vanity, 
but  was  suggested  by  such  a  view  of  the  subject,  and  of  the  pecu- 
liar nature  of  his  case,  as  would,  it  is  believed,  naturally  strike 
every  ingenuous  mind.  There  were,  however,  at  the  time  of  his 
return  from  England,  certain  laws  in  force,  which  bore  hard  upon 
him  and  others  in  a  similar  situation ;  and  here  an  opportunity  of- 
fers, for  adverting  to  the  early  legislation  of  the  State  of  New- 
York,  which  has  frequently  been  the  subject  of  animadversion  for 
its  extreme  severitv. 

We  have  seen  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  observations  on  the  banish- 
ing act,  which  was  the  last  act  passed  at  the  first  session  of  the 
legislature  after  the  adoption  of  a  constitution.  According  to  his 
views,  if  there  was  a  necessity  for  a  law  of  that  description,  one 
might  have  been  framed  prescribing  an  oath  which  would  have 
been  a  sufficient  security  to  the  public,  without  subjecting  that 
class  of  persons  against  whom  the  act  was  directed,  and  who  were 
known  to  act  upon  principle,  to  the  hard  alternative  of  perjury,  or 
banishment.  He  would  no  doubt  have  been  willinof  to  have  taken 
an  oath  to  do  no  act  having  a  tendency  to  obstruct  the  public 
measures  of  his  countrymen;  and  such  an  oath,  taken  by  a  man  of 
principle,  would  evidently  have  afforded  greater  security  to  the 
public,  than  the  indiscriminate  administration  of  a  general  oath  of 
allegiance. 

The  confiscation  act,  which  w^as  passed  22d  October  1779,  was 
condemned  by  some  of  the  most  eminent  whigs.  In  a  letter  from 
John  Jay,  then  American  Minister  at  Madrid,  to  George  Clinton, 
Governor  of  New-York,  dated  6th  May,  1780,  that  prominent 
champion  of  the  Revolution  thus  speaks  of  this  measure  :  "  An  Eng- 
lish paper  contains  what  they  call,  but  I  can  hardly  believe  to  be, 
your  confiscation  act.     If  truly  printed,  New-York  is  disgraced  by 


P  t  T  E  11      V  A  N      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  395 

injustice  too  palpable  to  admit  even  of  palliation.  I  feel  for  the 
honor  of  my  country,  and  therefore  be<T  tlie  favor  of  you  to  send 
me  a  true  copy  of  it  ;  that  if  the  other  be  false,  I  may,  by  publish- 
ing yours,  remove  the  prejutlice  against  you  occasioned  by  the 
former." 

Upon  this  the  biographer  of  Mr.  Jay  remarks  :  "The  confiscation 
act  referred  to  in  the  foregoing,  was  unfortunatel}^  authentic. 
JNIr.  Jay,  in  after  life,  often  spoke  of  it  with  strong  indignation. 
He  regarded  the  dispute  with  Britain  as  one  in  which  men  might 
conscientiously  take  opposite  sides ;  and  while  he  was  ever  ready 
to  adopt  all  proper  measures  for  preventing  the  tories  from  injuring 
the  American  cause,  he  abhorred  the  idea  of  punishing  them  for 
their  opinions.  His  wish  was,  that  no  estate  should  be  confiscated 
except  such  as  belonged  to  those  who  had  been  either  perfidious, 
or  cruel.  By  the  act  alluded  to,  many  were  attainted  who  had 
been  perfectly  inoffensive ;  and  he  believed  motives  of  avarice  had 
led  to  their  proscription.  So  much  disgusted  was  he  with  the  in- 
justice and  inhumanity  of  this  law,  that  he  always  declined  pur- 
chasing any  property  that  had  been  confiscated  by  it."* 

It  should  in  justice  be  mentioned,  that  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  name 
does  not  appear  among  the  number  of  those  whose  estates  were 
confiscated,  and  who  were  attainted  by  name,  and  without  notice, 
or  trial ;  nor  were  any  proceedings  had  against  him  under  this  law. 
The  names  of  several  females  are  found  in  the  list ;  and  farther  pro- 
visions are  made  in  the  act,  for  indicting  and  trying  deceased  per- 
sons, with  a  view  to  a  forfeiture  of  their  estates,  by  retrospect  to 
their  life-time,  and  reverting  to  a  date  upwards  of  three  years  pre- 
vious to  the  passage  of  the  act : — a  period  when,  in  the  judgment 
even  of  many  of  the  friends  of  the  Revolution,  the  doors  of  recon- 
ciliation with  the  mother  country  w^ere  not  fully  closed.f  The 
time  alluded  to   was  the   9th  of  July,  1776  ;  on  the  morning  of 


*   Life  and  writings  of  John  Jay,  1st  Vol.  112. 

t  The  Convention  of  New- York,  as  late  as  the  31st  ^lay,  1776,  passed 
a  resolution  looking  to  a  reconciliation  with  Great  Britain,  although  they 
"  considered  it  as  remote  and  uncertain" — and  the  delegates  from  New- York 
to  the  Continental  Congress  declined  voting  on  the  question  of  declaring  in- 
dependence, for  the  reason  that  they  were  enjoined  by  their  instructions  "  to 
do  nothing  v/hich  should  impede  a  reconciliation''  with  the  mother  country. 


396 


THE     LIFE     OF 


which  day  the  Convention  of  New-York,  as  appears  by  its  minutes, 
assembled  as  a  "Provincial  Congress  of  the  ProrzTice  of  New-York ;" 
and  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  they  became  "  a  Convention 
of  the  representatives  of  the  State  of  New-York,"  and  passed  a 
resolution  approving  of  the  declaration  of  independence  by  the 
Continental  Congress. 

It  is  a  historic  fact,  also,  that  up  to  within  a  few  days  of  the 
declaration,  a  respectable  portion  of  the  master  spirits  in  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  condemned  such  a  step  as  premature.*  And  if 
such  was  the  opinion  of  some  of  the  ripe  and  fiery  spirits  of  that 
body,  it  is  not  to  be  questioned  that  a  large  number  of  the  common- 
alty, viewing  it  in  the  same  light,  might  very  innocently,  if  not 
ignorantly,  for  a  time  at  least,  have  recognized  the  continued  au- 
thority of  Britain.  But  all  will  concede,  that  the  declaration  was 
not  the  achievement  of  American  Independence.  It  did  but  evince 
the  spirit  of  freedom,  and  indomitable  as  that  spirit  usually  is,  it 
was  not  omnipotent  even  for  its  own  purposes.  It  was  but  an  as- 
sertion, and  however  noble  and  patriotic  in  itself,  yet  the  great 
work  which  was  to  vindicate  its  expediency,  and  to  prove  its  truth, 
remained  to  be  accomplished. 

Under  one  provision  of  the  confiscation  act,  if  an  individual  had  on 
the  tenth  day  of  July,  1776 — unsettled  as  was  the  question  of  actual 
independence  at  that  date,  and  limited  as  we  have  reason  to  believe 
even  the  knowledge  of  the  declaration — destitute  as  was  New- York 

*  lu  Mr.  Jefferson's  Sketch  of  the  Debates  in  Congress,  on  the  Sth  and  10th 
of  June,  177G,  on  the  motion  made  by  the  Virginia  delegates  for  declaring 
independence,  it  is  said  :  "  It  was  argued  by  Wilson,  Robert  R.  Livingston, 
E.  Rinledge,  Dickinson  and  others — That  though  they  were  friends  to  the 
measure  themselves,  and  saw  the  impossibility  that  we  should  ever  again  be 
united  with  Great  Britain,  yet  they  were  against  adopting  it  at  this  time  : 
That  the  conduct  we  had  formerly  observed  was  wise  and  proper  now,  of  de- 
ferring to  take  any  capital  step  till  the  voice  of  the  people  drove  us  to  it  : 
That  they  were  our  power,  and  without  them  our  declarations  could  not  be 
carried  into  effect  :  That  the  people  of  the  middle  colonies  (Maryland  Del- 
aware, Pennsylvania,  the  Jerseys  and  New-York)  were  not  yet  ripe  for  bid- 
ding adieu  to  British  connection,  but  that  they  were  fast  ripening,  and,  in  a 
short  time,  would  join  in  the  general  voice  of  America  :  That  the  resolution 
entered  into  bythe  House  on  the  15th  of  May,  for  suppressing  the  exercise  of 
all  powers  derived  from  the  crown,  had  shown,  by  the  ferment  into  which  it 
had  thrown  these  middle  colonies,  that  they  had  not  yet  accommodated  their 
minds  to  a  separation  from  the  mother  country." 


PETER      VAN     S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  397 

of  a  constitution,  and  witliout  a  legislature  to  enact  laws,  or  courts 
to  adjudicate  upon  them — withdrawn  to  a  place  within  the  power 
or  possession  of  the  i3ritish  fleets  or  armies,  and  had  on  the  next 
day  departed  this  life,  he  was  liable,  after  such  decease,  and  under 
a  statute  enacted  three  years  afterwards,  to  be  made  a  party  by 
name  to  an  indictment  and  prosecution  in  the  courts,  with  a  view 
to  a  confiscation  of  his  property,  in  the  hands  of  his  innocent  widow 
and  children.  The  confiscation  act,  in  one  of  its  aspects,  thus  exhibits 
the  extraordinary  spectacle  of  an  ex'post facto  criminal  law, carried 
into  execution  against  a  dead  person ! 

A  provision  was  introduced  into  "an  act  to  complete  the  quota 
of  the  troops  of  this  State,  to  serve  in  the  army  of  the  United  States 
during  the  war,"  passed  on  the  9th  of  October,  1780,  which  at 
this  day  appears  not  a  little  singular,  (although  not  without  rea- 
sons to  support  it,)  and  it  may  be  referred  to  as  an  instance  of  curi- 
ous legislation. 

By  a  section  of  this  statute,  the  parents  of  any  young  man  who 
had  gone  off  and  joined  the  enemy  were,  for  this  reason,  subjected 
to  a  tax  of  ninepence  in  the  pound  on  the  value  of  the  whole 
estate  of  the  parent ;  and  the  act  provided  "  that  where  any  person 
shall  have  two  sons  gone  off  to,  and  joined  the  enemy,  the  sum 
assessed  upon  such  person  shall  be  doubled ;  and  where  three  sons, 
the  said  sum  shall  be  trebled  ;  and  in  a  like  proportion  for  each  addi- 
tional son."*  This  was  reversing  the  order  of  the  decalogue,  and 
has  the  appearance  of  visiting  the  sins  of  the  "  children"  upon  the 
''^fathersP  The  act  made  no  exceptions  in  favor  of  parents  whose 
sons  had  gone  ofT  without  their  knowledge  or  leave,  or  even  in 
favor  of  the  whig  fathers  of  w^ayward  sons;  and  they  were  sub- 
jected to  its  penalties  equally  wdth  the  disaffected,  who,  the  legisla- 
ture probably  thought,  should  have  brought  up  their  sons  better,  and 
with  a  keener  relish  for  the  principles  of  liberty.  This  was  so 
manifestly  unjust  and  oppressive,  that  the  law  was  modified  at  the 

■*  Ttie  property  of  parents  in  moderate  circumstance?,  and  who,  in  fulfil- 
ling the  divine  command  of  "  multiplying  and  replenishing  the  earth,"  had 
been  blessed  by  Providence  with  a  goodly  number  of  sons,  might  have  been 
exhausted  by  the  operation  j  for  the  parent  was  to  be  assessed  "  at  leasV  five 
pounds  for  each  son,  without  reference  to  the  poverty  of  the  parent,  and  not 
excepting  the  widow. 


98  THELIFEOF 


next  session,  so  as  to  exempt  from  its  provisions  the  parent  who 
could  prove  that  he  or  she  had  "  constantly  and  uniformly,  from 
the  commencement  of  the  present  war,  taken  an  active  and  decisive 
part  in  favor  of  the  United  States,  and  hath  constantly  demeaned 
himself,  or  herself,  as  a  good  subject  of  this  State  ought  to  do." 

On  the  12th  of  May,  1784,  an  act  w^as  passed  by  the  State 
legislature,  entitled  "  an  act  to  preserve  the  freedom  and  independ- 
ence of  this  State,  and  for  other  purposes."  This  was  a  very  severe 
law.  It  disfranchised  all  those  who  had  not  been  friendly  to  the 
Revolution. 

By  the  first  section  of  this  act,  it  was  provided,  in  general,  that 
every  person,  who  at  any  time  since  the  9th  day  of  July,  1776,  had 
accepted,  received,  held  or  exercised  any  military  or  civil  office, 
commission  or  appointment  from  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  or  who 
since  the  date  referred  to  had  voluntarily  gone  over  to,  remained 
with  or  joined  the  British  fleets  or  armies,  at  any  time  during  the 
then  late  war,  and  who  had  left  the  State  previous  to  the  10th  of 
December,  1783,  and  had  not  returned,  should,  on  conviction  thereof 
upon  being  found  in  this  State,  "  be  adjudged  guilty  of  misprision 
of  treason."     The  second  section  contained  this  clause  : 

"  II.  And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  That 
"  all  and  every  person  or  persons  falling  under  any  of  the  descrip- 
"  tions  herein  before  mentioned,  and  the  descriptions  mentioned  in 
"  the  twelfth  section  of  the  act  entitled  '  an  act  to  regulate  elec- 
"  tions  within  this  State,'  passed  the  27th  day  of  March,  1778, 
"  and  who  has,  or  have  not  left  this  State,  are  hereby  forever  dis- 
"  qualified  and  rendered  incapable  of  holding,  exercising  or  enjoy- 
"  ing  any  legislative,  judicial,  or  executive  office,  or  place  what- 
"  soever,  within  this  State ;  and  shall  and  hereby  is  and  are  forever 
"  disqualified  and  incapacitated  to  elect  or  vote,  either  by  ballot  or 
"  viva  voce,  at  any  election  to  fill  any  office  or  place  whatsoever, 

"  within  this  State." 

To  give  a  full  view  of  the  broad  extent  of  the  disfranchise- 
ment inflicted  by  this  act,  it  will  be  necessary  to  recur  to  the 
twelfth  section  of  the  "  act  to  regulate  elections,"  and  which  was 
in  these  w^ords  : 

"  XII.  And  be  it  farther  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
*'  That  all  and  every  person  and  persons,  inhabitant  and  inhabi- 


P  E  T  n  R      VAN      S  C  II  A  A  C  K  .  399 

"  tants  of  this  State,  who  since  the  ninth  day  of  July,  in  the  year 

"  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-six,  before 

"  any  Congress  or  Convention,  or  Committee  or  Council  of  Safety 

"  of  this  State,  or  other  Committee  or  Commissioners  of  conspira- 

"  cies  within  tliis  State,  has  or  have  avowed,  or  voluntarily  rccog- 

"  nised,  or  acknowledged  any  allegiance  to  the  crown  of  Great 

*'  Britain,  or  the  sovereignty  or  supremacy  of  the  King  or  Parlia- 

"  ment  of  Great  Britain,  or  either  of  them  over  this  State,  and  the 

"  inhabitants  thereof  or  either  of  them ;  or  disavowed  or  denied  the 

"  authority  of  the  present  government  and  legislature  of  this  State, 

"  or  of  the  former  government  and  legislature  thereof,  by  Con- 

"  gresses  or  Conventions,  Committees  or  Councils  of  Safety,  and 

"  other  Committees ;  or  the  independence  of  this  State  of  any  au- 

"  thority  vested  in  or  derived  from  the  King  or  Parliament  of  Great 

"  Britain;  or  has  or  have  voluntarily  taken  up  arms  with  the  Brit- 

"  ish  troops,  against  this  State  or  any  or  others  of  the  United  States 

"  of  America ;  or  has  or  have  voluntarily  borne  or  held  any  com- 

"  mission,  office  or  place  of  trust  or  profit  under  the  king  and  par- 

"  liament  of  Great  Britain,  or  under  any  authority  derived  from  or 

"  under  them  or  any  or  either  of  them ;  or  being  out  of  the  power 

"  of  the  British  troops,  has  or  have  voluntarily  gone  within  their 

"  power  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  them  with  provisions  or  other 

"  necessaries,  or  employed  other  person  or  persons  for  the  purpose; 

"  or  being  so  out  of  their  power  have  voluntarily  gone  and  con- 

"  tinned  within  the  same  without  special  license  or  permission  by 

"  authority  for  the  purpose ;  or  has  or  have  held  any  correspon- 

"  dence  with  them  or  either  of  them,  in  anywise  prejudicial  to  the 

"freedom  and  independence  of  the  United  States  of  America;  or 

"  has  or  have  directly  or  indirectly  counselled,  aided,  encouraged 

"  or  abetted,  or  shall  hereafter  directly  or  indirectly  counsel,  aid, 

"  encourage  or  abet  any  person  or  persons  whatsoever  being  an 

"  inhabitant  or  inhabitants  of  any  of  the  United  States  of  America, 

"  to  acknowledge  or  avow  any  allegiance  to  the  crown  of  Great 

"  Britain,  or  any  sovereignty  or  suprem.acy  of  the  king,  and  parlia- 

"  ment  of  Great  Britain,  or  either  of  them,  over  this  State,  or  any 

"of  the  said  United  States;  or  to  disavow  the  authority  of  the 

"  Congress  of  the  United  States  of  America,  or  of  the  Provincial 

"  Congresses,  or  Convention  or  Legislature  of  this  State ;  or  to 


6i 


400  THE     LIFE     OF 

"  disaffect  any  person  or  persons  to  such  independence  or  to  the 
"  government  and  legislature  of  this  State;  or  shall  hereafter  be 
"  guilty  of  any  or  either  of  the  said  offences,  shall  be  and  hereby 
"  is  and  are  ipso  facto  forever  thereafter  respectively  declared  to 
"  be  utterly  disabled,  disqualified,  and  incapacitated,  to  vote  either 
"  by  ballot,  or  viva  voce  at  any  election  to  fill  any  office  or  place 
whatsoever,  within  this  State,  and  to  hold,  exercise,  or  enjoy  any 
office  or  place  within  this  State.  Provided  always.  That  noth- 
"  ing  in  this  clause  contained,  shall  be  construed  to  affect  any  per- 
"  son,  who  having  gone  over  to,  or  joined  the  British  troops,  has 
"  returned  to  his  allegiance  to  this  State,  according  to  the  tenor, 
"  true  intent  or  meaning  of  any  proclamation,  heretofore  issued 
"  by  any  authority  vested  in,  or  derived  from  the  legislature,  or 
"  government  of  this  state,  or  by  his  excellency  General  Washing- 
"  ton  as  Commander-in-chief  of  the  forces  of  the  United  States  of 
"  America." 

In  one  of  his  letters  from  England,  Mr.  Van  Schaack  expressed 
a  doubt  in  regard  to  again  entering  upon  his  profession,  on  his  re- 
turn to  America,  "  even  if  permitted  so  to  do."  In  this  qualifica- 
tion he  no  doubt  alluded  to  certain  laws  then  in  force,  and  which, 
until  repealed,  were  an  effectual  impediment  to  his  resuming  the 
practice  of  the  law  in  his  native  state. 

On  the  ninth  day  of  October,  1779,  an  act  was  passed  by  the 
legislature  of  New- York,  suspending  from  practice  all  attornies, 
solicitors  and  counsellors  at  law,  who  had  been  licensed  previous  to 
April,  1777,  to  practice  in  any  of  the  courts  of  law  or  equity  of  the 
former  colony  of  New- York.  This  suspension  could  only  be  re- 
moved by  the  inquisition  of  a  jury  of  inquiry,  establishing  upon 
oath,  that  the  applicant  had  been  "  a  good  and  zealous  friend  of 
the  American  cause."  In  March,  1785,  an  attempt  was  made  to 
procure  a  repeal  of  this  law,  so  far  as  it  respected  certain  promi- 
nent legal  gentlemen  of  known  integrity,  but  it  proved  unsuccess- 
ful ;  and  many  men  of  talents  were  thereby  excluded  from  the 
profession  to  which  they  had  been  educated,  and  which  constituted 
their  dependence  for  the  support  of  their  families. 

A  share  of  selfishness,  probably,  entered  into  the  patriotism 
which  procured  the  enactment  of  this  law  ;  and  certainly  into  that 


r  !•:  T  K  R      V  A  N      S  (J  H  A  A  C  K  .  40  1 

which  prevented  its  repeal,  at  the  close  of  the  Revolution.  If  proper 
at  the  time  of  its  enactment,  yet  when  the  contest  was  decided,  there 
was  no  good  reason  why  lawyers,  more  than  any  other  class  of 
citizens,  should  be  required  to  prove  that  they  had  been  friendly  to 
previous  public  measures,  to  entitle  them  to  the  exercise  of  their 
professions.  Such  a  principle  carried  out,  would  have  oj)erated  as 
a  perpetual  exclusion  from  the  new  republic  of  all  who  had  not 
been  zealous  whigs  ;  and  it  was  entirely  at  variance  with  the  views 
of  Washington  and  Jay,  who  believed  that  men  might  conscien- 
tiously take  different  sides  in  the  contest  with  Britain. 

It  was  not  to  be  expected  that  the  prejudices,  distrust,  and  an- 
gry passions,  which  had  been  excited  by  a  civil  war  of  seven  years' 
duration,  would  immediately  and  entirely  subside  on  the  successful 
issue  of  the  struggle.  There  had  no  doubt  been  much  of  cruelty 
and  barbarity  in  the  conduct  of  a  certain  portion  of  the  refugees, 
and  such  as  to  render  that  chiss  justly  obnoxious  to  the  continued 
indignation  and  persecution  of  the  "violent  whigs."  But  the  in- 
discriminate condemnation,  and  perpetual  disfranchisement  of  all 
those,  who,  from  conscientious  scruples,  had  not  favored  the  public 
measures,  and  who,  upon  the  determination  of  the  contest,  fur- 
nished, in  their  integrity,  a  certain  guaranty  of  their  readiness  to 
become  good  citizens,  under  the  new  order  of  things,  was  scarcely 
less  censurable,  than  had  been  the  conduct  of  the  "  faithless  and 
cruel,"  who  alone,  according  to  the  well-drawn  distinction  of  Mr. 
Jay,  deserved  to  be  excluded  from  the  new  republic.  Many  of  the 
early  acts  of  the  legislature  of  New-York  were  very  severe  in  their 
operation  upon  individuals,  and,  as  general  laws,  were  unjust. 
Much  of  the  legislation  of  that  period  was  injudicious,  and  incon- 
siderate, and  it  betrays  evident  haste.  Special  acts  were  passed 
in  a  number  of  cases  to  relieve  individuals  who  were  injured  by  fhe 
provisions  of  statutes,  and  whom  the  laws,  when  passed,  were  not 
even  intended  to  atfect. 

For  those  laws  which  were  enacted  in  the  progress  of  the  Revo- 
lution, great  allowance  should  be  made.  They  have  for  their  apo- 
logy "  the  infancy  of  the  state,"  and  the  trials,  distractions,  and 
embarrassments  arising  from  a  state  of  civil  war.  But  the  "  Act 
to  preserve  the  freedom  and  independence  of  this  State"  was  passed 
in  May,  1784,  several  years  after  the  suspension  of  hostilities,  and 

51 


402  THE      LIFE      OF 

four  months  after  the  formal  ratification  of  the  treaty  of  peace  ;  with 
the  spirit,  if  not  ^Yith  the  letter  of  which  instrument,  its  provisions 
were  evidently  at  variance. 

The  two  last  mentioned  statutes  remained  in  force  when  Mr. 
Van  Schaack  returned  from  England.  The  failure  of  the  attempt, 
made  in  March,  1785,  to  procure  a  partial  repeal  of  the  law 
against  attornies,  has  been  mentioned.  At  the  same  session  efforts 
were  made  to  procure  a  mitigation,  or  repeal  of  other  rigorous  laws, 
and  with  the  like  unfavorable  result.  A  bill  introduced  into  ihe 
House  of  Assembly,  to  repeal  the  twelfth  section  of  the  "  act  to  reg- 
ulate elections,''  and  the  second  section  of  the  "  act  to  preserve 
the  freedom  and  independence  of  this  State,"  after  being  ordered  to 
a  second  reading,  was  committed  to  a  committee  of  the  whole  house, 
where,  upon  debate,  it  was  rejected. 

A  better  and  more  liberal  spirit,  however,  began  to  extend  itself, 
and  a  returning  confidence  gradually  took  the  place  of  that  pre- 
judice, and  distrust,  which  is  the  natural  and  invariable  concomi- 
tant, as  w^ell  as  the  usual  and  immediate  sequent,  of  a  state  of  civil 
war.  The  legislature  which  met  in  January,  1786,  was  actuated 
by  more  enlarged  view^s,  and  was  distinguished  for  more  increased 
liberality.  At  this  session,  the  act  suspending  the  licenses  of  attor- 
nies, solicitors  and  counsellors  who  could  not  produce  certificates 
of  their  attachment  to  the  American  cause,  was  repealed  ;  and  the 
only  requirements  made  to  reinstate  them  in  the  practice  of  their 
profession,  were  evidence  of  good  moral  character,  and  an  oath 
of  abjuration  and  allegiance,  and  for  the  faithful  execution  of 
their  offices.  A  law^  was  also  passed  in  regard  to  undiscovered 
confiscated  lands,  authorizing  the  discoverer  to  locate  them,  for  the 
benefit  of  the  widows  and  children  of  attainted  persons. 

At  the  same  session,  a  section  was  enacted,  the  etfect  of  which 
was  to  repeal  the  disfranchising  law  of  12th  May,  1784,  so  far  as 
it  affected  thirty-three  gentlemen,  named.*  It  will  be  proper  here 
to  introduce  this  section  at  large. 

"  XIII.  Jiiid  be  it  further  enacted,  hy  the  authority  aforesaid, 
''  That  the  several  persons  mentioned  in  the  third  clause  of  the  act, 

*  The  residue  of  the  "  act  in  relation  to  the  freedom  and  independence  of 
this  Stale,"  together  with  a  great  number  of  other  laws,  was  repealed  on 
the  12th  of  March,  17S8. 


P  E  T  E  II      VAN      S  C  n  A  A  C  K  .  403 

"  entitled  '  An  act  to  preserve  the  freedom  and  independence  of  this 
"  State,  and  for  other  purposes  therein  mentioned,'  passed  the  12th 
"  day  of  May,  1784,  and  Peter  Van  Schaack,  Richard  Bartlett, 
"  Theophilus  Nelson,  and  Zebulon  Walbridge,  shall  be,  and  tliey 
"  are  hereby  respectively  restored  to  all  their  rights,  privileges  and 
"  immunities,  as  citizens  of  this  State,  from  and  after  such  time  as 
"  the  said  persons  respectively  shall  in  any  court  of  record  of  this 
"  State  take  the  oath  of  abjuration  and  allegiance  prescribed  by 
"  law,  any  thing  in  any  former  law  contained  to  the  contrary  there- 
"  of  notwithstanding." 

These  impediments  having  been  removed,  Mr.  Van  Schaack 
was  reinstated  in  his  rights  as  a  citizen,  and  at  a  term  of  the  Su- 
preme Court,  held  at  the  City  Hall  in  the  city  of  New-York,  in 
April,  1786,  he  was  re-admitted  to  the  bar. 

It  must  have  been  a  somewhat  humiliating  spectacle,  to  behold 
one  of  the  fathers  of  the  New-York  bar,  and  the  reviser  of  the  Co- 
lonial statutes,  which,  by  the  constitution,  were  still  to  continue  to 
be  the  law  of  the  State,  thus  seeking  admission  a  second  time  to 
the  bar  of  the  Supreme  Court.  But  we  have  seen,  that  Mr.  Van 
Schaack  was  perfectly  willing  to  begin  his  career  de  novo,  and 
only  asked  of  his  countrymen  to  forgive  his  past  errors.  In  this 
spirit,  we  fmd  him  cheerfully  writing  from  New -York,  to  his  son 
at  Kinderhook  : — "  I  was  re-admitted  to  the  bar  on  Tuesday  last, 
and  am  happy  among  my  associates,  who  treat  me  with  great  po- 
liteness and  attention  :" and  to  his  young  correspondent  in  En- 
gland,  "I  have  the  pleasure  to  tell  you,  that  I  am  reinstated 

in  my  rights  as  a  citizen  of  this  State,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  a  fortnight  ago." 

He  shortly  afterwards  opened  a  law  office  in  his  native  village. 


404  THE     LIFE     OF 


C  H  A  P  i  E  1^     XX. 

The  first  few  years  after  his  return  from  England,  Mr.  Van 
Schaack  led  a  life  of  exceeding  great  activity  and  industry  ;  and  the 
number  and  diversity  of  his  employments  were  such  as,  coupled  with 
the  hearty  welcome  and  distinction  with  which  he  was  received  into 
the  variety  of  companies  into  which  he  was  brought  by  the  calls  of 
business  and  social  enjoyment,  (and  which  lost  none  of  their  effect 
upon  his  susceptible  heart,)  probably  rendered  this  one  of  the  hap- 
piest portions  of  his  life.  From  his  correspondence  during  this 
period,  it  appears  that  his  time  w^as  taken  up  "  from  morning  to 
night  in  business  and  social  enjoyments,"  and  "  every  faculty  of 
his  mind  had  full  employment  with  building,  farming,  lawyering, 
&c."  Some  selections  from  his  correspondence  of  this  date  will 
be  found  interesting,  and  will  further  illustrate  his  character.  In- 
deed, he  scarcely  ever  committed  any  thing  to  writing,  which  did 
not  possess  some  interest.  It  w^as  remarkable,  that  his  letters  upon 
the  most  ordinary  occasions  always  contained  some  valuable  sen- 
timents, some  choice  expression,  or  interesting  classical  allusion 
worthy  of  preservation.*  Of  his  pen  it  may  not  unmeaningly  be 
said  :  "  J\^ihil  tetigit  quod  non  ornavity 

TO  H W .f 

Kt7iderhook,  30th  Aug.,  1785. 
My  dear  Harry  : 

I  would  not  have  been  six  weeks  on  shore  without  writincr  to 
you,  but  for  the  constant  motion  I  have  been  in  ever  since  my  ar- 
rival.    I  have  almost  finished  my  routine  of  visits,  and  in  a  few 

*  One  of  the  author's  greatest  difliculties,  in  preparing  the  present  work, 
has  been  to  make  a  selection  from  a  large  mass  of  manuscripts,  where  all  was 
so  good. 

t  Still  in  England. 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  405 

days  expect  to  be  at  New-York  aejain.  Alter  adjusting  some 
matters  of  business  there,  1  hope  to  be  more  at  leisure,  though  I 
fear  this  will  not  be  till  Nov.  next.  The  number  of  people  I  have 
seen,  and  more  or  less  conversed  with,  since  my  arrival,  would 
astonish  you.  I  wish  I  had  time  and  arrangement  of  ideas  equal 
to  my  inclination,  and  I  think  I  could  alTord  you  some  amusement. 
I  found  your  cousin  and  namesake  a  very  clever  youth  ;  the  other 
two  are  generally  allowed  to  be  fine  children,  and  be  assured,  I  am 
not  disposed  to  dissent  from  the  general  opinion.  They  all  three 
answer  my  most  sanguine  expectations.  You  will  therefore  be 
able  to  form  a  better  idea  than  I  can  at  present  express,  of  my  hap- 
piness. I  long  to  hear  of  Eliza's  arrival,  and  of  the  situation  of 
her  and  Nancy  as  to  health.  Your  constitution,  I  flatter  myself, 
will  continue  to  gain  strength.  Vires  acquirit  eundo  :  therefore 
take  a  great  deal  of  exercise,  but  not  fatigue.  Tell  me  something 
about  Jacob,  and  mention  me  to  him  affectionately.  I  find  he  has 
written  to  his  Iriends  in  very  strong  terms  of  regard  about  me.  He 
is  a  worthy  young  fellow\ 

You  w^ill  remember  me  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Low,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Phyn,Col.  Robinson  and  the  ladies,  in  the  most  respectful  manner. 
Our  friend  Dr.  Hayes,  you  must  assure  of  my  warm  esteem ;  he 
shall  have  a  long  letter  from  me  in  the  course  of  the  winter.  Pre- 
sent my  best  regards  also  to  Mr.  Watts,  and  Capt.  and  Mrs.  Ken- 
nedy.   I  hope  you  see  our  friends  in  Basinghall-street  sometimes. 

I  intended  fully  to  have  written  to  Mrs.  Sime,  but  she  must  im- 
pute my  silence  to  my  present  situation,  which  she  can  form  some 
idea  of,  when  she  considers  the  length  of  time  of  my  absence  from 
my  native  country,  the  extensive  family  connections,  and  the  large 
circle  of  acquaintances  I  have  had  to  attend  to.  My  best  wnshes 
to  her  and  Mr.  Sime,  and  all  her  connections  at  Islington,  and  in 
town.  Mrs.  Tate  and  Mrs.  Dyckman,  you  must  also  greet  for  me, 
and  assiofn  the  same  reasons  for  mv  not  writino;  to  them.  I  have 
seen  D.'s  sister,  who  is  very  anxious  for  his  return  to  America ; 
refer  him  to  Mr.  Dumont  for  my  opinion  of  the  situation  of  the 
country,  which,  by  the  by,  comes  up  fully  to  my  expectations.  I 
shall  expect,  my  dear  Harry,  that  you  make  a  point  of  seeing  the 
friends  I  have  mentioned ;  for  it  is  not  a  mere  ceremonious  compile 
ment  I  send  them  ;  but  a  sincere,  friendly  remembrance. 


406  THE     LIFE     OF 

Adieu  !  my  dear  Harry.     Expect  to  hear  from  me  again  in  a 

manner  better  suited  to  the  concern  I  take  in  your  welfare.     God 

bless  you ! 

Yours  affectionately, 

P.    V.    SCHAACK. 

TO  HIS  SON  * 

Kinderhook,  5th  Dec,  1785. 
My  dear  Harry  : 

Although  your  letters  are  generally  written  in  such  a  hurry,  (I 
suppose  owing  to  the  pressure  of  your  studies,)  as  to  give  me  little 
encouragement  to  enlarge  much  in  mine,  yet  I  have  so  much  plea- 
sure in  writing  to  you,  that  I  cannot  resist  the  impulse.  Your  last 
letter,  however,  short  as  it  is,  is  correct,  grammatical  and  intelli- 
gent. The  language  is  clear,  perspicuous  and  energetic.  It  is 
in  my  opinion,  too,  a  specimen  of  the  Laconic,  which,  if  I  remem- 
ber right,  is  agreeable  to  the  Grecian  eloquence.  Your  next,  I 
hope,  will  breathe  a  little  of  the  spirit  of  TuUy,  whose  splendid 
copiousness  is  equally  worthy  of  your  imitation.  You  may  think 
I  have  been  ironizing,  but  I  assure  you  I  have  not.  What  you 
have  said,  is  proper;  what  you  have  omitted,  I  will  now  remind 
you  of. 

You  say,  "  I  have,  according  to  your  request,  purchased,  paid 
for,  and  now  send  up  the  articles  you  desired  me  to  buy,  together 
with  the  price  of  them. 

"  Paid  for  a  pr.  andirons,  1 .  16  .  0 

"  Twine,  red  tape,  &c.,  6  .  6 


2.    2.6" 


"  The  articles."  Would  not  any  one  suppose  these  were  all  the 
articles  I  desired  you  to  buy  ?  Is  that  the  fact  ?  If  it  is,  I  have 
done.  If  it  is  not,  why  omit  the  rest  ?  There  is  a  figure  in  rheto- 
ric, whereby  a  part  may  be  taken  for  the  whole.  But,  my  dear 
Harry,  were  I  to  give  you  a  waistcoat,  and  tell  you  you  must  con- 
sider that  as  a  whole  suit  of  clothes,  I  believe  you  would  hardly  be 
convinced  by  my  rhetoric,  or  enabled  to  make  a  figure  at  the 
dancing  school.     Risum  teneatis,  amid  ? 

*  Then  at  Columbia  College. 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  407 

Let  me  beseech  you  to  write  willi  iittention.  Consider  your 
subject  before  you  enter  upon  it.  J)evote  one  half  hour  to  nie  once 
a  week.  There  is  time  enou<:;h  for  all  you  have  to  do,  if  you  make 
a  judicious  distribution  of  the  ileetin<^  hours.  I  thought  your  watch 
would  have  assisted  you  in  making  this  distribution.  Whilst  we 
are  uncertain  whether  we  do  not  bestow  too  much  time  upon  one 
subject,  we  are  prevented  from  pj^ying  proper  attention  to  it,  to 
the  exclusion  of  other  matters  which  demand  our  thoughts.  You 
are  free  from  that  embarrassment  at  least.  Don't  think  I  expect 
to  place  an  old  head  upon  young  shoulders,  or  that  I  would  impose 
on  you  unreasonable  difficulties,  much  less  impossibilities.  I  am 
told  you  have  an  aversion  to  writing ;  but,  as  writing  is  of  all 
things  the  most  useful,  and  writing  well,  the  most  ornamental, — in 
the  words  of  Mr. Pope,"  Nature's  chief  masterpiece  is  writing  well," 
— this  being  the  case,  ought  you  not  to  struggle  totis  viribus  against 
this  unreasonable  aversion  ?  Habit  will  make  the  task  easy.  There 
is  not  a  truer,  more  useful,  or  more  admirable  maxim  than  this : 
Optimum  genus  vitce  eligito,  et  consuetudo  faciei  jucundissimum. 
This  should  be  engraven  on  your  mind. 

I  am  afraid  you  will  be  tired  of  this  long  letter.  I  will  only 
add  to  it  the  name  of 

Your  w^armest  and  best  friend, 

P.  V.  S. 

Your  brother  is  well,  and  as  dear  and  good  a  boy  as  ever.  I 
have  just  been  reading,  in  the  Roman  history,  an  account  of  the 
Quintilian  brothers;  and  I  could  not  suppress  a  wish  that  you 
might  resemble  them  in  merit,  in  fraternal  affection,  and  in  every 
thing  but  their  misfortunes.  Their  names  were  Maximus  and  Con- 
dianus,  in  the  time  of  the  Emperor  Commodus. 

FROM  HENRY   CRUGER. 

Bristol,  7th  Oct.,  17S5. 
My  dear  Sir  : 

The  news  of  your  safe  arrival  on  your  native  shore,  gave  great 
joy  to  me  and  Mrs.  Cruger,  as  well  as  to  every  individual  of  your 
acquaintance.  Your  agreeable  letter  announcing  the  intelligence, 
I  transmitted  to  the  Colonel,  at  Beverley,  who,  I  dare  say,  was  as 
happy  to  hear  of  your  welfare  as  any  man  on  earth. 


408  THE      LIFE      OF 

The  reception  you  met  on  your  arrival,  though  no  more  than  I 
expected,  yet  proved  grateful  in  the  realization.  The  sincerity  of 
Mr.  Jay's  friendship,  you  never  questioned  ;  but  this  last  mark  of 
it  must  make  him  your  gi'eat  Apollo.  The  generous  behavior  of 
the  Governor,  Chief  Justice,  &c.,  proves  a  nobleness  of  mind,  which 
dignifies  the  officer,  and  endears  the  man.  If  vii/  grateful  ac- 
knowledgments, on  the  occasion,  will  be  acceptable,  I  shall  be 
happy  to  have  them  rendered,  in  terms  of  the  warmest  respect. 

The  warmth  of  your  gratitude,  makes  you  declare,  in  the  effu- 
sions of  your  joy,  that  you  have  not  met  "  an  old  iriend,  with  a  new 
faceP     The  cruelty  would  exceed  the  wit  to  answer,  "  ivallajides 
frontV^      But,  my  dear  Van,  when  our  countrymen  in  general 
know  as  much  of  you  as  the  individuals  of  your  more  intimate  ac- 

ml  J 

quaintance  do,  they  will  consider  your  return  to  them  a  valuable 
accession.  The  variety  of  scenes  you  have  been  unfortunately 
witness  of,  the  useful  knowledge  you  must  have  acquired,  and  the 
infinite  experience,  which  in  a  few  years  you  have  gained,  must 
prove  an  advantage  to  that  country  in  which  they  centre.  But, 
most  particularly  so,  when  every  friendly  disposition  to  do  one's 
country  good  is,  like  yours,  warmed  and  reanimated  by  the  endear- 
ing thought  of  "  natale  solu?n.'^ 

Every  thing  remains  here  just  as  you  left  them.  The  news- 
papers will  inform  you  of  all  matters  public ;  and  as  to  my  own 
private  affairs,  they  are  much  the  same — rather  mended  than 
otherwise,  thanks  to  the  creditor's  pity,  more  than  to  the  debtor's 
punctuality.  But,  oh  !  my  dear  friend,  what  commission  or  reward 
can  compensate  for  the  duns,  insults  and  sufferings,  that  we  poor 
American  merchants  do  undergo  !  The  game  is  up.  One  half  is 
ruined  already,  and  unless  remittances  come  in  the  course  of 
the  winter,  the  other  half  must  be  undone  also : — a  shockinsf 
return  for  our  confidence  in  the  promises  of  our  correspondents. 
Government  have  been  sounded  on  the  distressing  subject.  They 
do  not  think  it  of  importance  enough,  to  trouble  themselves  about. 
A  man  high  in  office  told  me  with  a  great  sang-froid — "  We  are 
sorry  for  you  as  a  friend,  and  for  others  engaged  in  the  American 
trade,  but  you  will  in  future  be  more  cautious  whom  you  trust  in 
the  United  States  :" — a  sad  reflection  this  on  the  private  yaiY/t  of 
merchants.     To  be  sure,  the  little  regard  paid  to  promises  and  en- 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  409 

gagcments  made  by  some,  warrants  in  some  degree  the  universal 
censures  thrown  on  our  trading  countrymen. 

I  have  endeavored  lo  reason  with  my  friends  on  the  usefulness 
of  candor  and  punctuality,  and  have  ventured  to  go  so  far  as  to 
say  that  foi-  a  j)rc.'icnf  pound,  they  were  throwing  away  thousands — 
nay,  a  pearl  of  inestimable  value — their  credit.  All  agree  that  the 
war  has  depraved  the  morals  of  the  people, — granted  ; — but  then 
should  not  all  agree  that  as  peace  is  made,  a  reformation  is  become 
indispensable  ?  Fair  dealing  is  all  that  is  necessary.  Let  the  text 
be  taken  out  of  the  7th  of  St.  Matthew,  at  the  12th  verse. 

Capt.  Dehay,  of  the  Peggy,  is  obliging  enough  to  take  the 
charge  of  a  cheese  for  you,  and  a  hamper  of  beer,  in  which  you 
must  eat  and  drink  our  health  ;  for  we  pray  for  yours  and  your 
happiness.  Mrs.  Cruger,  your  very  warm  and  sincere  friend,  sends 
her  love  and  advice  to  you,  and  that  is,  to  get  married  again,  and 
in  your  choice  not  too  much  to  c^wregard  parity  of  years  ;  for,  al- 
though "  you  look  seven  years  younger  than  you  did  seven  years 
ago,"  yet  in  seven  years  hence,  you  mayy^e/  more  than  fourteen 
years  older. 

I  remain  yours  in  sickness  and  in  health, 

Affectionately, 

Hen.  Cruger. 

FROM  THOMAS  LEDIARD. 

London,  2A.th  Bee,  1785. 
My  dear  Sir  : 

Your  much  esteemed  favor  under  date  of  the  17th  Sept.  has 
been  but  lately  put  into  my  hands  !  I  think  I  have  too  well  read 
good  Mr.  Van  Schaack,  to  admit  as  necessary  an'  apology  from 
him  for  his  silence.  If  any  instance  of  my  conduct  has  induced 
him  to  give  me  a  seat  in  his  friendship,  I  glory  in  that  pleasing 
circumstance,  and  on  it  will  I  feast  till  that  morn  on  which  the 
gods  shall  perfect  the  fruits  of  our  pure  regard,  that  promisingly 
budded  in  our  early  acquaintance,  but  was  nearly  to  be  blighted 
before  it  blossomed. 

I,  and  so  does  my  wife,  and  so  must  all  those  who  had  a  free 
intercourse  with  you,  rejoice  to  fmd  your  native  country  yield  you 
perfect  happiness,  and  that  the  surrounding  gratifying  objects  are 

52 


410  THE      LIFE      OF 

too  numerous  for  the  time  you  have  to  enjoy  them  In.  Poor  Mrs. 
Lediard  is  deeply  obligated  by  your  kind  inquiries  and  good  wishes ; 
she  is  neither  so  well  nor  so  happy  as  she  ought  to  be  ;  but,  we 
patiently  bear  all  things  as  they  arise,  with  that  even  steadiness 
wherewith  Providence  hath  blessed  us ; — having  confidence  in 
fond  hope, — the  nurse  of  young  desire, — "  that  hence  the  gloomy 
cloud  will  give  place  to  the  cheering  rays  of  perfect  truth,  that 
confounds  shadow^  and  manifests  all  things." 

That  friendship  improves  happiness  and  abates  misery,  "  by 
increasing  our  joy  and  scattering  our  grief,"  is  an  opinion  generally 
admitted,  and  your  commercial  system  of  this  exalted  principle,  (if 
I  may  be  allowed  the  expression  as  you  gave  it  to  me  in  our  sweet 
evening's  w^alk  in  yon  great  square,)  will  forever  rest  in  the  deepest 
recess  of  my  mind.     If  I  cannot  imitate,  I  can  admire  ! 

Mrs.  Lediard  joins  me  in  the  most  affectionate  regards  for  you, 
and  so  would  dear  Tom,  (who  is  w^ell,)  were  he  capable.  When 
I  can  serve  you,  I  am  confident  youknow^  me  too  well  not  to  com- 
mand your  most  Sincere  friend, 

T.  Lediard. 

FROM  JOHN  WATTS. 

London,  24th  Dec,  1785. 
Dear  Sir  : 

You  judged  very  right  in  supposing  a  letter  from  you  w^ould 
not  be  unacceptable ;  how  could  it,  after  the  various  interesting 
conversations  we  have  so  frequently  held,  on  the  transactions  of  a 
country  we  drew  our  first  breath  in,  were  so  distant  from,  and  so 
often  obliged  to  defend,  from  the  love  we  bore  to  it  ?  These  are 
yet  fresh  in  my  memory  ;  but,  like  most  other  things,  wearing 
away  by  degrees.  Threescore  and  ten  has  a  wonderful  effect  both 
on  the  body  and  on  the  mind ;  but  why  make  this  remark  to  you, 
who  have  nothing:  to  do  with  it  ?     Let  us  come  nearer  home. 

That  your  reception  has  been  so  cordial  gives  me  much  plea- 
sure, and,  in  your  state  of  probation,  must,  I  am  persuaded,  have 
proved  a  solid  satisfaction  to  yourself,  as  it  opens  a  view  to  your 
ultimate  wishes.  May  you  not  be  disappointed  in  the  least  of 
them ;  though  it's  rather  too  much  to  be  expected,  when  we  look 
about  us  and  philosophize  a  little,  which  teaches  us  to  take  the 


PETEK      VAN      SCHAACK.  411 

world  as  we  fiiul  it — the  bad  uilh  the  good.  When  merchants 
comphiin  'tis  for  want  of  gains,  assuredly.  AfTection  and  good 
will  are  not  the  basis  of  commerce;  it  depends  quite  upon  another 
principle,  and  to  suppose  that  one  nation  deals  with,  or  credits  an- 
other, out  of  regard,  is  to  suppose  a  courtezan  grants  her  favors 
out  of  love ;  both  may  pretend  it,  but  who  believes  them,  but 
dupes '? 

Our  old  friend  has  at  last  taken  his  departure  from  Beverley, 
which  he  said  should  hold  his  bones  ;  he  went  off  without  pain  or 
struggle,  his  body  wasted  to  a  skeleton,  his  mind  the  same.  The 
family  are  most  of  them  collected  in  town.  There  will  scarcely  be 
a  village  in  England,  without  some  American  dust  in  it,  I  believe, 
by  the  time  we  are  all  at  rest. 

My  regards  to  Mr.  Jay.  I  hope  his  influence  may  continue, 
that  both  his  head  and  his  heart  may  be  employed  in  promoting 
the  public  good  ;  in  laying  the  foundations  of  a  new  system. 
Such  characters  are  peculiarly  wanted.  Don't  forget  me  to  any  of 
my  good  friends  you  meet  with  :  it  of  course  must  make  me  happy 
to  know  they  still  preserve  a  favorable  opinion  of  me.  If  to  avoid 
giving  offence  be  a  merit,  1  flatter  myself  I  have  some  claim 
so  far.  Farewell,  my  good  sir ;  may  your  health  and  your  spirits 
never  fail  you,  and  whatever  ills  may  be  your  lot,  you  will  have  no 
right  to  complain.     I  am,  as  I  used  to  be, 

Yours  very  truly,  J.  W. 

FROM  LEONARD  GANSEVOORT,  JUN. 

Albany,  2Sth  Dec,  1785. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  received  your  letter  by  the  stage.  The  claim  you  have  upon 
me,  I  consider  as  a  debt  of  honor,  and  as  such  mean  to  settle  it 
whenever  I  have  it  in  my  power. 

I  am  exceedingly  happy  that  the  conduct  of  the  citizens  of  Al- 
bany towards  you  was  such  as  to  meet  your  approbation.  JNIerit, 
sir,  will  ever  claim  attention,  even  in  the  most  degenerate  age ; 
and  the  friendly  reception  they  gave  you,  at  once  discovers  the  high 
sense  they  entertain  of  your  character  as  an  honest  man,  and  the 
fiivorable  opinion  they  have  ever  entertained  of  your  conduct  in  a 
political  view. 


412  THE     LIFE     OF 

■  I  shall  deem  myself  honored  by  a  letter  from  you,  whenever 
your  leisure  will  permit,  and  as  I  promise  myself  both  amusement 
and  instruction  from  your  letters,  I  hope  you  will  meet  my  wish. 
I  shall  be  happy  when  you  revisit  us  to  accommodate  you  with  a 
lodging,  such  as  the  situation  of  my  family  will  admit  of. 

Mrs.  Gansevoort  joins  with  me  in  wishing  you  health.  Believe 
me,  when  I  assure  you  that  I  am. 

Your  friend, 

Leonard  Gansevoort,  Jun. 

TO   RIGHT  HON.  LORD  SOUTHAMPTON. 

Kinderhookj  2d  January ^  1786. 
JVIy  Lord  : 

Having  had  the  honor  of  conversing  with  your  lordship  on 
the  subject  of  Warrensburgh,  I  presume,  from  what  passed  then, 
that  my  addressing  your  lordship  upon  the  present  occasion  will 
not  be  deemed  presumptuous,  or  impertinent.  I  have  had  two 
visits  from  these  people,  in  each  of  w^hich  they  expressed  their  anx- 
iety about  a  settlement,  and,  though  I  will  not  trouble  your  lord- 
ship with  the  particulars  of  our  conversation,  I  cannot  help  remark- 
ing, that  I  am  very  apprehensive  that  the  adjustment  of  this  mat- 
ter w^ill  be  attended  with  many  difficulties.  They  want  some 
specific  proposals  from  the  proprietors,  as  to  the  terms  they  mean 
to  sell  or  lease  upon,  nor  do  I  think  that  unless  such  are  previously 
made,  the  partition  will  be  effected  without  opposition. 

I  am  conscious,  my  lord,  how  difficult  it  is  for  people  in  Eng- 
land to  form  adequate  ideas  of  the  state  of  landed  property  in  this 
country.  From  the  habits  of  thinking  which  prevail  there,  arising 
and  confirmed  by  the  daily  experience  of  the  steady  influence  and 
energy  of  the  laws,  they  naturally  suppose  that  there  is  always  a 
remedy,  where  there  is  a  right.  The  idea  that  land  can  be  vacant, 
where  there  is  a  legal  title,  would  appear  to  them  to  be  a  solecism ; 
and  they  w^ould  stare  if  they  heard  their  yeomanry  avow^ing  and 
justifying  their  occupancy  of  other  people's  lands,  by  observations 
drawn  from  the  public  utility  of  cultivating  and  replenishing  the 
earth,  and  by  the  first  and  original  principles  of  society.  Nor  can 
it  be  supposed  that  the  peculiar  situation  of  the  country,  just  emerg- 
ing out  of  a  state  of  civil  war,  and  the  meritorious  services  of  those 


PETER     VAN      SCHAACK.  413 

who  have  been  active  in  bringintr  about  the  Revolution,  and  their 
sufferings  in  consequence  of  them,  will  be  omitted.  With  res- 
pect to  the  two  extremes,  of  a  state  of  nature,  and  a  state  of  re- 
finement like  England,  America,  in  its  present  situation,  cannot 
be  classed  with  either. 

I  hope  your  lordship  will  pardon  my  saying  thus  much  on  a 
subject,  the  importance  of  which  I  conceive  extends  beyond  the 
object  immediately  under  consideration ;  my  remarks  upon  which, 
how^ever,  might  well  have  been  spared,  if  I  had  recollected  how 
well  informed  your  lordship  manifested  yourself  to  be  on  these  topics, 
when  I  had  the  honor  of  seeing  you.  I  will  only  add,  that  when 
the  settlers  talk  of  leases,  they  always  explain  themselves  as  mean- 
ing durable  leases, — that  is,  leases  in  fee  simple  rendering  a  certain 
rent. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  my  lord, 

Your  lordship'6  most  obedient  servant, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

TO  HENRY  WALTON. 

Kinderhook,  18th  March,  1786. 
My  dear  Harry  :, 

It  is  a  long  time  since  1  was  favored  with  your  agreeable  let- 
ter of  the  3d  September, — much  longer  than  is  consistent  with  that 
punctuality  which  I  generally  observe  in  correspondences  much 
less  interesting  to  my  feelings,  than  that  with  you.  You  are,  how- 
ever, too  considerate  not  to  make  allowances  for  ray  remissness, 
in  this  instance,  when  you  reflect  what  has  been  due  from  me  to 
a  very  large  circle  of  acquaintances  and  friends,  including  a  long 
train  of  near  and  dear  relations.  I  found  myself  so  happy  among 
them  in  the  country,  that  I  insensibly  altered  my  purpose  of  spend- 
ing the  winter  in  New- York ;  and  I  was  not  dissatisfied  with  my- 
self, to  find  that  I  could  so  well  reconcile  myself  to  a  seclusion  from 
the  gayeties  and  amusements  of  the  town,  after  being  so  long  a  spec- 
tator, and  in  some  measure  an  actor  in  the  busy  scenes  of  life. 
Comparing  Kinderhook  with  London,  the  chano;e  is  great  indeed, 
even  though  he  was  not  quite  so  stupid  as  Virgil's  Meliboeus — 
Vrhem  quani  dicunt  Romani —     You  know  the  rest. 

I  hope  your  next  will  mention  your  having  seen  those  of  my 


414  THE     LIFE     OF 

friends  whom  you  know  I  regard ;  I  fear  regard  more  than  they 
do  me.  i\Ir.  Diimont's  silence  is  truly  astonishing.  My  expecta- 
tion of  a  letter  from  him  by  every  ship,  has  prevented  my  writing 
Mrs.  D.,  but  that  expectation  has  vanished  into  a  mere  wish,  and 
therefore  I  will  try  whether  female  friendship  is  not  a  little  more 
durable.  Tell  me  how  she  is,  particularly.  Present  my  respects 
to  those  worthy  families  at  Mortlake,  whose  kind  hospitality  I  have 
experienced,  and  will  remember  with  my  latest  breath.  I  was  re- 
joiced to  hear  of  Mrs.  Phyn's  amended  health.  God  grant  her  a 
perfect  establishment  of  it.  I  saw  Mr.  Ellice's  brother,  with  his 
bride,  at  the  Albany  assembly  lately — a  pretty  assembly  it  w^as; 
how  I  wish  to  describe  it  to  Mrs.  Low.  This  country  is  very  much 
polished. 

I  am  going  to  build  a  pretty  little  box  in  this  neighborhood ; 
I  will  describe  its  situation  in  a  future  letter,  and  try  to  warm  your 
imagination  so  much  as  to  enable  you  to  make  a  sketch  of  it  from 
your  own  fancy.  It  will  be  upon  a  small  scale.  Simplex  munditiis 
is  the  style  I  shall  aim  at. 

Pray  tell  me  how  you  are,  and  how  you  spend  your  time,  what 
books  you  are  reading,  &c.  A  little  dash  of  Latin  or  French  will 
be  acceptable.  Your  vis  consilii  pleased  me  much.  But  I  protest 
against  a  quarto  edition  of  your  letters ;  fill  a  sheet  of  folio  post, 
and  you  will  do  something. 

May  Heaven  preserve  you,  my  dear  Harry,  and  may  you  be  all 
the  friendly  heart  wishes  you,  of 

Your  most  affectionate  uncle, 

P.   V.    SCHAACK. 

TO  ROBERT  YATES.* 

Kinderhook,  13th  March,  1786. 
Dear  Sir  : 

If  you  will  accept  the  inclosed  as  a  mark  of  my  readiness  to 
comply  with  your  wishes,  I  shall  be  amply  compensated  for  the 
criticisms  which  I  am  confident  it  cannot  escape  from  your  discern- 
ing eye.  I  ever  thought  the  qualities  of  the  heart  more  valuable 
than  those  of  the  head,  and  esteem  more  desirable  than  fame.  It 
is  but  a  hasty  outline,  a  crude  sketch,  and  that  on  a  subject  I  have 

'  *  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New-York. 


PETER      VAN     SCIIAACK.  415 

never  before  considered,  and  do  not  understand  ;  but  if  you  think  it 
capable  of  being  mouldeil  into  any  thin<^  useful,  you  may  freely 
command  me,  as  may  the  gentleman  you  mentioned,  with  whose 
character,  though  a  stranger,  1  am  not  unacquainted. 

I  will  cheerfully  write  to  England  if  you  think  it  necessary, 
which,  however,  I  do  720^  Their  cobweb  niceties  and  refinements 
do  not,  in  my  opinion,  suit  us.  In  old  countries,  they  are  unavoid- 
able to  counteract  those  evasions  and  subterfuges  to  which  we  are 
as  yet  strangers.  Like  the  ceremonial  laws  of  the  Jews,  they  are 
punishments  for  sins  we  are  not  yet  contaminated  with.  I  would 
as  soon  suppose  the  flannels  and  crutches  of  a  gouty  debauchee  to 
be  necessary  for  a  robust  American,  or  the  appendages  of  an  old 
dowager's  toilette  ornamental  to  the  bloom  of  nineteen,  as  that  the 
complex  subtleties  of  their  practice  would  be  proper  for  the  simpli- 
city of  our  courts.  Let  us  not  attempt  to  transplant  the  tree ;  but 
let  the  trunk  grow  out  of  our  own  soil,  and  if  we  can  get  a  few 
foreign  grafts,  suited  to  that  and  to  our  climate,  it  is,  I  think,  all 
we  want, 

I  do  not  sufficiently  understand  the  revenue  laws  of  this  State, 
to  know  how  far  any  regulations  in  this  case  would  harmonize  or 
clash  with  them.  I  have  avoided  using  any  terms  which  are 
unknown  in  our  practice.  One  technical  term  appropriated  to  the 
Court  of  Exchequer  in  England,  would  draw  after  it  a  train  of  con- 
sequences, which  would  involve  us  in  a  labyrinth.  The  books  of 
precedents,  into  which  I  have  not  yet  had  time  to  look,  will,  I 
believe,  help  us  out  in  every  thing  necessary,  whether  the  trial  be 
by  jury  or  otherwise. 

1  beg  my  respectful  compliments  to  Mrs.  and  Miss  Yates,  w^hom 
I  promised  myself  the  pleasure  of  seeing  this  w^eek,  but  I  fear  I 
shall  be  disappointed  by  a  little  jaunt  to  the  Manor,  and  my  prepa- 
rations for  going  to  New-York,  which  will  be  sooner,  in  conse- 
quence of  a  letter  I  have  received  by  the  post,  than  I  intended. 
I  am,  with  great  respect,  dear  sir, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 


416  THE  LIFE  OF 


FROM  ROBERT  YATES. 
Dear  Sir: 

The  attention  you  have  bestowed  in  gratifying  my  wishes,  in 
giving  your  sentiments  on  the  Court  of  Exchequer  lately  erected  in 
this  state,  demands  my  sincerest  acknowledgments.  I  am  happy 
in  declaring  my  fullest  approbation  of  your  sentiments,  and  I  hope 
I  shall  be  gratified  wath  an  opportunity,  at  New-York,  next  month, 
more  fully  to  canvass  with  you  this  subject. 

At  present,  my  view  is  more  particularly  to  recommend  to  you 
the  bearer  hereof.  Major  Fairlie,  a  gentleman  for  whom  I  have  the 
highest  esteem,  and  whose  conduct  as  a  soldier,  a  citizen,  and  a 
gentleman,  has  justly  entitled  him  to  the  notice  and  friendship  of 
the  first  characters  in  the  state.  He  is  sensible  of  the  respectful 
manner  in  which  you  have  mentioned  him  in  your  letter,  and  every 
further  attention,  with  which  you  may  treat  him,  will  ever  be 
gratefully  acknowledged  by  me. 

Mrs.  and  Miss  Yates  join  with  me  in  their  respectful  compli- 
ments to  you.    I  am,  dear,  sir,  with  great  esteem. 

Your  sincere  friend,  and  very  humble  servant, 

Robert  Yates. 

FROM  THOMAS  HAYES.* 

Bristol,  March  10th,  1786. 
My  dear  Sir  : 

Your  favor  of  August  30th,  dated  at  Kinderhook,  surprised  me, 
being  sooner  than  I  expected  ;  and  more  so,  when  I  read  your 
agreeable  account  of  your  reception  amongst  those  who  had  former- 
ly been  so  inimical  to  you.  I  do  not  in  the  least  wonder  at  the 
agitation  of  your  spirits,  which  must  have  been  so  overcharged 
with  hopes  and  fears,  that  every  occurrence  must  have  surprised 
you.  It  is  a  great  happiness  that  the  surprise  was  an  agreeable 
one,  eventually. 

The  good  account  you  give  of  the  disposition  of  the  inhabitants 
of  the  country  is  very  agreeable  and  acceptable  to  me.  I  pray 
God,  to  increase  that  disposition  to  its  highest  pitch  of  perfection, 

♦  This  gentleman  was  at  one  time  mayor  of  the  city  of  Bristol. 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  4 17 

and  that  the  reception  you  have  met  may  continue  to  your  satisfac- 
tion, and  no  brown  loaf  produced  in  future,  and  that  the  peace  and 
tranquillity  you  now  describe,  may  endure  to  the  end  of  time. 

How  pleasingly  different  is  your  description  from  the  daily 
accounts  published  !*  By  the  latter, "  the  goodness  of  the  govern- 
ment and  virtue  of  the  people"  is  arraigned;  but  your  Ji at  to  the 
contrary  is  sufficient  for  me;  and  I  will  flatter  myself  will  be 
realized  by  the  happy  fruits  to  be  produced.  The  latter  part  of 
your  letter  casts  a  gloom  upon  my  mind,  which  was  before  sufficient- 
ly laden.  I  will  hope  that  "  the  good  government  and  virtue"  will 
operate  to  the  removal  of  those  harsh  conditions. 

I  expect  frequent  letters  from  you.  It  will  be  charity  towards, 
dear  sir, 

Your  affectionate  friend  and  humble  servant,  &c., 

Thos.  Hayes. 

TO  REV.  WILLIAM  MORICE.f 

MiV'York,  4th  May,  1786. 
Sir  : 

Although  I  have  not  had  the  honor  of  wTiting  to  you,  since  my 
arrival  in  America,  yet  I  have  not  been  unmindful  of  the  business 
you  mentioned  to  me,  relative  to  the  property  in  this  state,  of  the 
venerable  Society.  I  have  taken  occasion  to  communicate  their 
resolution  to  the  friends  of  the  church,  in  different  parts  of  the 
state,  and  requested  them  to  procure  all  the  information  they  could 
upon  the  subject,  that  I  might  be  able,  from  their  detail,  to  give  you 
a  comprehensive  view  of  the  whole.  But  at  present  I  am  not 
apprised  of  any  estates  that  will  require  a  conveyance  from  the 
Society,  except  the  one  at  Fort  Hunter,  on  the  Mohawk  river. 

The  particulars  I  have  collected  are,  that  this  land  was  given 
by  the  Mohawk  Indians  for  the  use  of  the  church  to  be  established 
there; — that  it  was  conveyed  to  Dr.  Barclay; — that  the  Doctor 

*  Could  a  collection  now  be  made  of  the  letters  written  by  Mr.  Van 
Schaack,  on  his  return  to  America,  to  his  friends  in  England,  it  would  furnish 
an  interesting  and  valuable  picture  (although  somewhat  colored)  of  the  state 
of  society  and  of  the  country  at  this  period. 

t  Secretary  to  the  venerable  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign 
Parts. 

53 


418 


THE      LIFE      OF 


conveyed  it  to  the  Society,  upon  their  reimbursing  him  moneys  he 
had  expended  upon  it,  and  that  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stewart,  the  Society's 
missionary,  resided. there  for  some  time,  and  until  the  commence- 
ment of  the  late  war,  when  both  he  and  the  Indians,  who  com- 
posed his  congregation,  removed  to  Canada.  .  I  am  sorry  to  add, 
that  since  that  time  the  estate  has  been  much  injured  for  the  want 
of  some  person  having  authority  to  superintend  it,  and  that  at  pre- 
sent it  is  in  the  occupation  of  a  tortious  possessor,  who  has  taken 
advantage  of  the  derelict  state  it  was  in,  and  seems  inclined  to 
divest  the  Society  of  its  property.  Cases  of  this  kind  always  grow 
worse  and  w^orse,  and  often  desperate,  by  delay,  and  something 
decisive  ought  to  be  immediately  done. 

In  conferring  with  some  respectable  members  of  the  church,  it 
has  been  proposed,  as  there  is  at  present  no  congregation  at  Fort 
Hunter,  (the  Indians  who  composed  it  having  long  since  removed 
in  a  body  from  thence,  and  being  a  tribe  now  extinct,)  that  the 
profits  of  this  land  should  be  applied  to  the  benefit  of  the  congre- 
gations of  Albany  and  Schenectady,  who,  from  their  vicinity  to  it, 
will  be  the  most  capable,  and,  from  its  being  their  interest,  most 
inclined  to  pay  attention  to  the  property.  But,  that  this  should 
only  continue  until  a  congregation  shall  be  re-established  in  the 
place,  when  the  estate  should  again  revert  to  its  original  purpose. 
If  the  venerable  Society  should  be  of  opinion  that  this  would  be  a 
right  measure,  as  I  trust  they  wall,  a  short  deed  expressing  these 
trusts  would  suffice.  If  they  should  think  proper  to  make  this  deed 
more  comprehensive,  so  as  to  take  in  any  other  property  they  may 
have  in  this  State,  (though  I  know  of  no  other,)  it  would  save 
trouble  in  future.  This,  however,  would  naturally  call  their  atten- 
tion to  the  persons  proper  to  be  intrusted  on  the  occasion  ;  and 
hence  I  am  led  to  remind  you  of  the  conversation  you  favored  me 
with  just  before  my  departure  from  London. 

I  then  told  you,  sir,  that  I  thought  it  would  facihtate  the  be- 
nevolent objects  of  the  Society,  that  some  leading  people  in  the 
state,  who  w^ere  members  of  the  church,  should  be  conferred  with, 
provided  I  found,  by  consulting  with  Mr.  Moore,  that  this  would 
be  a  safe  and  expedient  measure.  His  concurrence  confirmed  me 
in  what  I  hinted  to  you,  and  I  communicated  the  Society's  resolu- 
tion to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Provost,  to  Mr.  Jay,  Mr.  Duane,  the  Mayor  of 


i 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  <119 

this  city,  and  to  some  others ;  in  each  of  whom  I  found  an  una- 
bated continuance  of  their  former  zeal  for  the  welfare  of  the 
church. 

If  the  Society  should  be  of  opinion  that  such  a  deed  as  I  have 
mentioned  would  be  proper,  I  submit  whether  it  would  not  be  ex- 
pedient that  the  following  persons  should  be  grantees  named  in  it, 
under  the  trusts  to  be  declared  therein  ;  viz.,  the  Hon.  Richard 
Morris,  Chief  Justice,  the  Hon.  Rob't  R.  Livingston,  Chancellor, 
his  Excellency  John  Jay,  James  Duane,  Esq.,  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Provost  and  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Moore.  In  mentioning  these,  or 
any  other  persons,  I  would  be  influenced  by  no  other  motive,  than 
that  of  combining  the  power  with  the  inclination  to  serve  the 
church.  The  latter,  I  hope  is  not  confined  to  so  small  a  number 
as  both  united  must  necessarily  be  supposed  to  be. 

With  respect  to  the  Society's  land  in  Vermont,  from  the  unset- 
tled condition  of  that  part  of  the  country,  I  know  not  whether  any 
thing  can  be  done,  and  yet,  if  the  Society  should  think  a  general 
deed  eligible,  I  submit  whether  it  mig^ht  not  extend  to  all  the  real 
estate  vested  in  them  within  what  was  formerly  the  Province,  and 
is  now  the  State  of  New-York,  and  within  the  territory  called  Ver- 
mont. The  land  at  or  near  Fort  Hunter,  on  the  Mohawk  river,  in 
the  now  county  of  Montgomery,  heretofore  Tryon  county,  and 
originally  the  county  of  Albany,  should  I  think  be  particularly 
mentioned.  Whether  the  title  deeds  are  in  England,  or  where 
else,  I  have  not  been  able  to  inform  myself. 

It  will  always  be   a  pleasure  to  me,  to  afford  my  feeble  assis- 
tance in  the  service  of  the  Society,  whenever  they  will  honor  me 
so  far  as  to  point  out  an  occasion. 
I  am,  very  respectfully,  sir, 

Your  most  obed't  serv't, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

TO  HENRY  WALTON. 

JVew-York,  30th  Kov.,  1786. 
My  dear  Harry  : 

I  wrote  to  you  about  a  week  ago,  inclosing  a  letter  to  our  little 
Nancy.  It  was  to  have  gone  by  Mr.  John  Leake,  but  was  unfor- 
tunately left  behind.     In  my  letter  I  recommended  to  you  to  go 


420  THE       LIFE      OF 

frequently  into  Westminster  Hall,  to  take  notice  of  the  four  great 
courts  there,  to  attend  on  some  arguments,  especially  in  the  King's 
Bench, — to  pay  particular  attention  to  Lord  Mansfield,  whose 
name  sounds  as  loud  here  as  in  England, — to  go  also  into  the 
Temple,  and  remark  the  public  offices,  the  names  of  which  you 
will  see  affixed  up  there.  Lincoln's  Inn  Hall,  the  Six  Clerks 
Office,  Chancery-lane,  the  Roll's  Chapel  in  the  same  street,  Ser- 
jeants' Inn,  Fleet-street,  Guild-Hall,  in  the  city,  you  must  occasional- 
ly peep  into.  Doctors'  Commons  you  must  also  traverse  a  little. 
I  will  make  this  superficial  view^  of  use  to  you  when  I  see  you. 
Lord  Loughborough  in  the  Common  Pleas,  Judge  Buller  in  the 
King's  Bench,  and  the  great  Lord  Thurlow  in  the  Court  of  Chan- 
cery, should  have  your  notice.  Make  yourself  familiar,  also,  with 
the  names  of  some  of  the  most  eminent  counsel  at  the  Bar.  If 
this  reaches  you  time  enough  for  the  Essoin  day  of  Hilary  Term, 
you  should  look  at  the  procession  from  Great  Ormond-street.  Get 
into  the  House  of  Peers,  and  House  of  Commons  two  or  three  times. 
Mr.  Dorington,  at  the  latter,  I  dare  say,  w^ould  do  you  the  favor  of 
introducing  you  upon  the  mention  of  my  name,  whom  he  formerly 
honored  with  his  acquaintance,  and  who  remembers  him  with  pleas- 
ure. Go  into  every  hole  and  corner  of  Westminster  Hall.  Take  it 
upon  my  w^ord  that  this  will  be  no  waste  of  time.  Impressions  made 
through  the  medium  of  the  eyes  and  ears  are  the  most  lasting. 

In  your  way  to  Falmouth,  you  should  stop  at  Salisbury,  and 
see  the  Cathedral  and  Wilton  House.  Stone-henge  is  also  in  its 
neighborhood.  Exeter  Cathedral  w^ill  also  engage  your  attention. 
The  tin  mines  in  Cornwall,  and  the  Stannaries,  you  must  talk  about. 
Capt.  Dillon,  Capt.  Peters  and  Capt.  McDonough,  at  Falmouth,  I 
doubt  not,  will  be  ready  to  be  acquainted  with  you  on  my  account. 
My  best  regards  to  them.  Mrs.  Tate  will  give  you  a  letter  to  the 
Governor  of  Pendennis  Castle ;  Mr.  Whitehead,  perhaps,  to  some- 
body at  Exeter  and  Salisbury.  Your  uncle  will  probably  recom- 
mend to  you  to  take  lodgings  in  London,  for  a  little  time  before 
you  set  out.  Let  me  advise  you  to  be  quite  ready,  a  day  or  two 
before  you  determine  to  come  away.  Be  collected,  and  form  your 
plan  at  leisure,  and  with  a  view^  to  every  thing  which  relates  to  it, 
from  the  beginning  to  the  end.  You  are  a  young  traveller,  my 
dear  Harry,  and  must  not  think  too  lightly  of  the  business.  • 


PETER     VAN     8CHAACK.  421 

I  wisli  you  to  get  acquainted  with  some  young  gentleman  study- 
ing the  law,  who  would  be  a  Cicerone  to  you.  Your  uncle  will 
write  to  Mr.  Hayes  to  introduce  you  to  Mr.  Lane,  but  he  will  not 
be  able  to  attend  you  ;  perhaps  one  of  his  clerks  may.  Buy  the 
newest  edition  olBlackstone's  Commentaries,  and  dip  in  the  1st  and 
3d  volumes ;  the  former  about  the  English  constitution,  the  latter 
about  the  courts — those  of  Westminster  Hall,  in  particular.  Some 
of  the  newest  and  best  books  of  practice,  Mr.  Lane  will  perhaps 
point  out.  Whieldon,  in  Fleet-street,  is  a  bookseller  of  reputation. 
Bring  out  a  new  Coke  upon  Littleton.  God  bless  you,  my  dearest 
boy.  Yours  affectionately, 

P.  V.  S. 

TO  HIS  SON. 

Kinderhook,Slst  Dec.y  1786. 
My  dear  Harry: 

Yours  of  the  16th  reached  me  two  days  ago.  You  need  not 
have  apologized  for  want  of  method  in  your  letter,  because,  take  it 
for  all  in  all,  it  is  the  most  correct  of  all  you  have  favored  me 
with ;  the  hand-writing  I  cannot  say  much  for,  nor  I  suppose  do 
you  care,  as  that  is  considered  by  many  to  be  beneath  the  attention 
of  a  gentleman. 

As  to  Mr.  B.'s  dialogue,  I  like  the  idea  very  well.  I  once  at- 
tempted something  of  this  species  of  composition,  though  between 
different  persons,  and  I  took  the  hint,  as  I  suppose  your  friend  did, 
from  Lord  Littleton,*  an  excellent  man !  whose  character  merits 
imitation,  but  who  was  cursed  in  a  son,  who  is  deservedly  the  object 
of  general  detestation.  I  have  not  the  pleasure  of  knowing  Mr.  B., 
but  you  should  take  nothing  upon  trust.  Examine  the  piece  well, 
and  first  be  convinced  of  its  merit  as  a  composition,  before  you  agree 
to  speak  it.  You  should  consider  that  if  it  is  deficient,  there  is  a  great- 
er objection  to  your  adopting  it,  than  there  would  be  to  your  speak- 
ing it  if  it  was  your  own  ;  for  in  the  latter  case  you  would  be  re- 

♦  Among  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  manuscripts,  was  found  the  fragment  of  a 
curious  political  dialogue,  in  his  hand -writing,  between  the  ghost  of  "  Lord 
Chatham,"  and  "  Mr.  Charles  Townshend,"  which  the  author  has  no  doubt 
is  the  composition  alluded  to.  Just  enough  of  this  fragment  remains  to  pro- 
voke curiosity.     See  Appendix  K. 


422  THE     LIFE     OF 

sponsible  only  for  its  defects,  but  in  the  other,  not  only  those  are 
fairly  imputed  to  you,  but  with  this  additional  stigma,  that  defec- 
tive as  it  is,  it  is  siiW  better  than  you  could  compose  yourself  .  I  have 
not  expressed  myself  so  well  as  I  could  do,  but  you  will  take  my  idea ; 
and  I  submit  it  whether  it  is  true  or  false  criticism.  I  am  not 
clear  in  it  myself — I  know  by  experience  that  first  impressions  are 
not  to  be  implicitly  adopted,  but  should  be  received  cumgrano  salis  ; 
i.  e.  with  grains  of  allowance  and  hesitation.  I  leave  this  matter 
entirely  to  your  own  discretion  and  judgment ;  but  then  pray  exer- 
cise these  faculties  before  you  determine.  Indeed,  I  trust  you  will 
do  so  in  every  part  of  your  conduct,  and  in  every  transaction  of 
your  life. 

As  to  your  oration,  it  is  yet  too  early  to  have  made  any  other 
progress  in  it,  than  to  begin  collecting  materials.  Like  building 
a  house,  this  should  precede  putting  it  together.  You  may  form 
some  general  plan  of  the  dimensions,  and  the  greater  parts  of  it, 
but  the  subdivisions,  the  nice  arrangements,  the  embellishments, 
must  be  a  work  of  more  time.  One  thing  I  must  tell  you ;  you 
must  think  of  it  again  and  again.  You  are  not  to  expect  ideas  to 
come  by  chance,  or  spontaneously,  any  more  than  that  a  field  would 
render  a  crop  without  culture.  The  harrow  and  the  plough  must 
be  used,  and,  by  the  way,  you  must  also  have  a  strong  fence  to 
keep  out  animals,  and  to  prevent  them  from  destroying  the  young 
and  growing  crop.  Ridiculous  notions,  vain  conceits,  idle  projects, 
are  as  pernicious  to  the  mind,  as  horses,  cattle  and  hogs  are  to  a 

wheat  field. 

I  have  been  out  but  once  since  my  return,  having  been  much 

engaged  in  considering  several  knotty  points.     I  was  determined  to 

finish  all  I  could  before  the  new  year,  and  have  happily  succeeded. 

I  shall  pay  a  visit  to  Pittsfield,  and  the  9th  we  open  our  court  at 

Claverack.    I  wish  you  could  be  there,  as  we  shall  do  it  with  some 

solemnity.*     We  all  join  in  our  wishes  for  a  happy  new  year  to 

you.     My  comphments  to  Mr.  Johnson,  and  to  all  your  relations. 

Yours  most  affectionately, 

P.  V.  S. 

*  The  county  of  Columbia  was  organized  in  1786. 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  423 


TO  HENRY  WALTON. 

Kindcrhoukf  \bth  June,  1787. 
My  dear  Harry  : 

Having  written  to  you  fully  about  your  not  coming  over  as 
we  once  proposed,  while  I  was  at  New-York  in  April,  1  shall  not 
resume  that  subject. 

I  have  received  the  silk  stockings  I  wrote  for,  but  rny  directions 
about  the  size  of  the  feet  have  not  been  attended  to.  Your  omis- 
sion of  some  other  trifles  I  mentioned,  I  impute  to  your  close  at- 
tention to  your  studies.  As  I  am  not  quite  so  assiduous,  your  mem- 
orandums, if  any  you  will  favor  me  with,  shall  be  attended  to. 

Do  you  ever  see  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lediard  ?  Pray  remember  me 
to  them.  I  owe  a  letter  to  Mr.  L.  and  many  thanks  for  his  care 
of  my  things,  w'hich  came  safe.  But  my  time  has  been  so  occu- 
pied, as  you  may  well  suppose,  that  I  am  obliged  to  give  up  many 
of  my  correspondences.  You  can  hardly  imagine  what  an  active 
life  I  have  led,  between  pleasure  and  business. 

Remember  me  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Low,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Phyn,  Miss 
Constable,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ellice.  Is  Miss  Constable  still  unmar- 
ried ?  Tell  her  Englishmen  are  no  judges  of  female  merit.  She  must 
come  over  here,  where  the  clergymen  have  so  much  employment 
in  tying  matrimonial  knots,  that  they  can  hardly  find  time  for  the 
other  parts  of  their  function.  But,  aprojws,  I  have  heard  she  is 
going  off  the  stage,  but  that  she  will  be  a  Belle,  even  then,  as  she 
has  been  heretofore. 

Our  summer  amusements  are  just  beginning,  and  a  great  deal 
of  gay  company  is  expected  at  Bath,*  w^hich  is  in  this  neighbor- 
hood. Perhaps  you'll  say,  //  est  fait  au  badinage.  We  don't  take 
pleasure  here  by  rule  or  fashion,  but  it  is  pleasure  nevertheless. 

Adieu,  my  dear  Harry,  7non  chere  ami  ! 

Yours  affectionately, 

P.  V.  S. 

What  a  beautiful  picture  is  presented  to  the  view,  in  the  pure 
and  ripened  friendships  of  the  revolutionary  period,  and  of  that 

♦Lebanon  Springs. 


424  THELIFEOF 

which  immediately  preceded  it !  Around  no  one  individual  did 
these  characteristics  of  an  age,  distinguished  as  much  for  its  vir- 
tuous simplicity  as  for  its  disinterested  patriotism,  cluster  in  such 
profusion  as  about  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  The  restricted  com- 
pass of  this  work  forbids  any  further  illustrations  of  this  remark 
than  have  already  been  exhibited, — if,  indeed,  they  could  be 
deemed  necessary, — and  yet  there  is  one  honored  name  which 
should  not  be  overlooked  in  this  connection.  A  letter  written  in 
1786,  by  Richard  Harrison,  to  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  on  pro- 
fessional business,  contains  this  remark  :  "  I  am  not  only  in  the 
land  of  the  living,  but  as  much  your  friend  as  ever,  that  is,  as  much 
as  it  is  possible  to  be  the  friend  of  any  man." 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  425 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

In  September,  1777,  the  Federal  Constitution,  as  prepared  by 
the  National  Convention  assembled  at  Philadelphia,  was  submitted 
to  the  people  of  the  different  States,  for  their  adoption.  Mr.  Van 
Schaack  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  subject,  employing  his  pen, 
and  devoting  a  large  share  of  his  time,  in  exertions  to  enlighten 
the  public  mind  on  the  subject.  It  is  no  slight  evidence  of  the  high 
estimation  in  which  he  was  held  by  his  fellow-citizens,  that  so 
soon  after  his  return  from  his  exile,  he  should  have  been  put  in 
nomination  as  a  candidate  for  the  county  of  Columbia,  to  the  State 
Convention  called  to  pass  upon  the  Constitution.  He  was  not,  how- 
ever, chosen ;  a  decided  majority  of  the  electors  being  opposed  to 
the  acceptance  of  that  instrument. 

TO  HENRY  WALTON. 

Kinderhook,  3d  June,  1788. 
My  dear  Harry  : 

Your  favor  of  the  2d  April  made  me  happy  a  few  days  since, 
as  the  watch  did  the  lady,  whose* thanks  accompany  mine  for  your 
attention.  Its  merit  must  be  estimated  by  time,  and  I  hope  it  will 
be  able  to  keep  that,  which  all  the  charms  of  female  beauty  can- 
not. JVon  sum  qualis  eram,  is  a  truth  every  lady's  glass  will  re- 
mind her  of,  when  the  bloom  of  youth  yields  to  a  more  autumnal 
season  of  life. 

I  have  lost  my  election,  without  being  much  mortified.  The 
popular  tide  was  against  us,  that  is,  (to  be  sure,)  against  what 
•was  right  and  good.  I  recommend  the  new  Constitution  to  your 
attentive  perusal,  and  you  should  dip  into  Montesquieu,  13  B.  6  Ch., 
and  1  Blackstone,  upon  the  English  government.  European  stric- 
tures upon  o\ix  federal  Constitution,  I  should  like  to  see  ;  as  I  verily 
believe  it  will  take  place,  maugre  all  the  objections  of  this  State. 

54 


426  THE      LIFE      OF 

A  frame  of  frovernraent  held  out  to  the  people  at  large  for  discus- 
sion, is  a  phenomenon  in  political  annals.  You  cannot  conceive 
what  agitation  it  has  occasioned ;  it  was  a  war  of  tongues,  but  a 
few  bloody  noses  have  been  the  consequence.  I  have  mounted 
the  rostrum  several  times,  and  harangued  the  multitude  on  law, 
government  and  politics.  Our  Convention  meets  soon,  and  I  wdll 
hint  to  your  uncle  G.  W.  to  send  you  the  debates.  We  have  some 
very  great  men  among  us,  and  a  w^onderful  degree  of  information 
among  the  common  people.  Public  speaking  is  much  in  vogue, 
and  were  you  here  you  w^ould  be  reminded  of  the  days  of  ancient 
Greece  and  Rome.  In  free  governments  there  will  always  be  much 
intrigue.  But,  I  will  perhaps  take  up  this  subject  more  method- 
ically hereafter.  Make  yourself  master  of  the  new  Constitution, 
and  also  of  one  or  two  of  the  State  Constitutions,  which  you  can 
buy  opposite  Burlington  House. 

Be  assured,  my  dear  Harry,  that  I  am  as  warmly  your  friend 
as  ever,  which,  could  you  feel  the  glow  of  my  heart  at  this  moment, 
you  would  be  convinced  of.     May  God  bless  you ! 

Yours  affectionately, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

What  are  you  studying  now^  ?  A  law  publication  once  in  a 
way  will  be  acceptable. 

TO  HIS  SON. 

Kmderhook,  29th  June,  1788. 
My  dear  Harry: 

I  intended  to  have  been  at  Poughkeepsie  before  now ;  but  it  is 
impossible  for  me  to  be  absent  from  home  during  the  whole  session 
of  the  Convention,  and  therefore  I  will  postpone  my  attendance  to 
the  conclusion,  and  the  siLinming  up.  Perhaps  were  I  to  know 
the  day  fixed  for  discussing  the  judiciary  power,  I  might,  for  the 
sake  of  so  interesting  a  debate,  deviate  a  little  from  the  above  plan. 
My  views  are  rather  directed  to  the  aggregate  than  to  the  detail ; 
but  at  your  time  of  life  you  should  be  equally  attentive  to  the 
farts,  as  that  will  enable  you  to  judge  of  the  combination  of  the 
whole. 

I  wish  you  was  a  little  more  circumstantial.     You  give  me, 


PETER     VAN      SCHAACK.  427 

indeed,  a  prospect  of  tlie  Convention,  but  it  is  a  distant  one.  I 
see  it  is  composed  of  men  and  some  speakers,  but  you  describe 
tlien:i  not  minutely,  nor  mark  their  characteristic  (lillerence  from 
each  other.  I  see  their  speeches  as  I  might  their  persons,  at  a 
distance,  witliout  a  delineation  of  their  features.  You  point  out  a 
valley,  but  do  not  describe  the  verdure  with  wliich  it  is  covered, 
the  serpentine  streams  with  which  it  is  intersected,  the  trees  which 
diversify  it,  the  flowers  which  enrich  its  banks,  nor  the  weeds, 
which  with  baleful  vegetation  obstruct  the  growth  and  beauty  of 
the  fruit.  You  say,  "Messrs.  H.,  I.,  the  Chr.  and  H.,  to  me  suffi- 
ciently proved,"  &c.  I  hope  you  retain  the  arguments  by  which 
they  convinced  you. 

Let  me  beg  of  you,  my  dear  Harry,  to  prepare  yourself  for  the 
debate  on  the  111th  Art.,  I  mean,  respecting  the  judiciary  power. 
Write  down  the  different  classes  of  causes  of  which  the  federal 
courts  are  to  have  cognizance.  The  enumeration  of  particular 
cases  necessarily  implies  an  exclusion  of  all  others.  You  will 
perhaps  find  this  article  a  source  of  more  casuistry  than  all  the 
others  taken  together.  The  infinite  variety  of  controversies,  the 
"thin  partitions"  which  divide,  and  the  almost  imperceptible  shades 
of  difTerence  which  discriminate  one  case  from  another  in  judicial 
determinations,  we  experience  every  day,  under  all  the  light  of 
established  practice.  What  an  Herculean  task,  then,  must  the 
Federal  Convention  have  had,  in  forming  an  arrangement  new  in 
the  political  world  !  The  judicial  power  is  to  extend  to  all  cases 
in  law  and  equity.  Of  what  description  will  the  different  tribunals 
be  to  which  this  power  will  be  distributed,  and  among  them  how 
apportioned  7  The  appellate  jurisdiction  is  to  extend  to  law  and 
fact.  Turn  your  attention  to  the  existing  courts  in  our  State,  to 
know  which  is  a  court  of  law,  which  of  equity,  which  decides 
without  the  intervention  of  a  jury,  upon  the  fact  as  w^ell  as  the 
law.  Ad  questiones  juris  respondent  judices^factijuratores.  Re- 
member this  is  a  common  law  maxim,  unknown  to  the  civil  law 
i.  e.  the  Roman  or  imperial  law.  The  latter  knows  not  of  a  jury. 
A  proper  inq\iiry  for  you  to  make  of  your  more  enlightened  profes- 
sional friends,  is,  have  we  in  our  State,  and  have  they  in  England, 
any  and  what  courts  proceeding  according  to  the  course  of  the  civil 
law  ?     You  will  be  answered,  the  Court  of  Chancery  and  the  Ad- 


428  THE     LIFE     OF 

miralty  fall  under  this  description.  The  appellate  jurisdiction  as  to 
fact^  will  not  therefore  extend  to  cases  where  the  fact  has  been 
found  by  a  jury,  but  to  those  \vhere  the  fact  has  been  tried  by  the 
court ;  that  is,  a  court  of  that  species  which  decides  upon  the  fact 
as  well  as  the  law,  thai  is  civil  law  courts.     Q.  E.  D. 

If  1  have  been  a  little  obscure  in  what  I  have  said,  one  advantage 
will  result  from  it.  You  will  honor  my  letter  w^ith  a  second  perusal, 
for  your  partiality  to  me  wull  not  let  you  suppose  that  I  WTite  non- 
sense. You  should  occasionally  recur  to  the  specimens  you  have 
in  your  reading  met  with,  of  ancient  oratory,  "  the  thunder  of 
Demosthenes,  and  the  splendid  conflagration  of  Tully."  Human 
nature  is  the  same  in  all  ages;  habits  and  manners  vary.  Which 
of  our  present  orators  would  have  resembled  those  of  antiquity,  had 
they  lived  in  those  days;  or  which  of  the  ancient  orators,  according 
to  the  doctrine  of  the  transmigration  of  souls,  are  at  present  in  the 
Convention  at  Poughkeepsie  ?  I  am  told  Mr.  Jay's  arguments,  like 
the  rock  of  Ajax,  knocked  down  all  opposition,  and  like  the  pillar 
of  lire  which  conducted  the  Israelites  through  the  wilderness, 
showed  us  the  way  out  of  our  many  embarrassments. 

Yours,  with  affection  and  esteem, 

P.  V.  S. 

In  1788,  a  law^  work  which  had  appeared  before  the  Revolu- 
tion, was  republished  at  New^-York,  entitled  the  "  Conductor 
Generalis,  or  the  duty  and  authority  of  Justices  of  the  Peace,  High 
Sheriffs,  Under  Sheriflfe,  Coroners,  Constables,  Gaolers,  Jurymen 
and  Overseers  of  the  Poor,"  &.c.  It  appears,  on  its  title-page,  to 
have  been  revised  and  adapted  to  the  United  States  of  America,  "by 
a  gentleman  of  the  law."  Mr.  Van  Schaack  was  the  editor  re- 
ferred to,  and  the  work  was  one  of  great  utility  and  convenience, 
not  only  to  magistrates,  but  to  professional  men  and  the  public 
generally.  What  connection  he  had  with  it  as  published  previous 
to  the  Revolution,  is  unknown. 

It  has  been  considered  creditable  to  Mr.  Van  Schaack,  that  he 
evinced  no  desire  to  enter  the  path  of  political  distinction,  on  his 
return  to  America.  His  course,  in  this  respect,  was  not  only  con- 
sonant to  a  determination  deliberately  formed  before  he  left  Eng- 
land, "  not  to  aspire  to  any  elevation  beyond  that  of  a  quiet. 


PETE  11     VAN     SCHAACK.  429 

unmarked  citizen,"  but,  as  appears  from  the  followinfr  letter,  he 
was  influenced  l)y  a  conviction  that  he  could  be  more  useful  to  his 
country  in  a  private  than  in  a  public  station. 

TO  HIS  SON. 

Kindcrhoo/c,  22d  February,  17S9. 
My  dear  Harry  : 

I  was  made  happy  with  your  letter  of  the  15-lSth  instant  by 
yesterday's  stage,  and  thank  you  for  your  communications  in  the 
political  line,  and  hope  your  presages  respecting  the  residence  of 
Congress  will  be  verified.  I  look  forward  to  the  important  event 
of  the  organization  of  the  Federal  Government,  with  sincere  plea- 
sure, and  unless  I  egregiously  mistake  my  own  heart,  it  is  a  plea- 
sure derived  from  the  love  of  my  country.  Whether  we  shall  in 
fact  derive  all  those  salutary  effects  which  we  hope  for  from  the 
new  government,  and  which  the  theory  of  it,  I  think,  so  well  jus- 
tifies, is  yet  a  matter  of  speculation.  If  we  have  virtue  in  the  exe- 
cution of  it  equal  to  that  which  I  verily  believe  animated  the  fram- 
ers  of  it,  there  would  be  nothing  to  fear.  But,  alas !  instead  of 
men  who  will  endeavor  to  act  up  to  its  spirit,  and  to  give  it  a  fair 
and  liberal  experiment,  it  is  much  to  be  feared  that  many  will 
come  within  those  walls  for  the  very  purpose  of  defeating  or  em- 
barrassing it. 

Let  me  recommend  to  you  to  attend  closely  to  every  proceeding 
of  this  great  assembly.  Read  over  and  over  again  the  Constitution, 
especially  any  clauses  which  may  be  the  subject  of  argument  and 
diversity  of  opinions;  and  you  should  revolve  in  your  mind  what 
passed  at  the  Convention  at  Poughkeepsie,  where  your  attendance 
was  certainly  not  for  amusement  only.  Mr.  Silvester  is  held  up  as 
a  candidate ;  he  signified  his  wishes  to  the  contrary,  but  at  the 
same  time  declared  that  he  conceived  it  the  duty  of  every  citizen, 
to  give  up  his  own  inclinations  to  the  voice  of  the  people.  If  he 
succeeds  in  this  anti-federal  district,  I  shall  be  much  deceived, 
though  he  will  have  many  votes  this  year  which  he  had  not  the 
last.  I  was  talked  of,  but  very  early  declared  in  explicit  terms 
that  I  would  not  be  held  up.  Indeed,  I  returned  to  my  country 
with  a  fixed  determination  to  keep  out  of  public  life.  The  instance 
of  last  spring  was  an  exception  to  the  rule,  not  an  infraction  of  it. 


430  THE     LIFE     OP 

It  was  a  peculiar  case  and  justified  by  the  occasion.  I  am  persuaded 
that  as  a  private  citizen  I  can  do  more  good  than  I  could  do  in  any 
official  character.  As  to  contested  elections,  my  experience  in 
England,  as  well  as  in  my  native  country,  has  given  me  an  abhor- 
rence of  them.  In  this  State,  where  the  mode  of  ballot  is  estab- 
lished by  the  Constitution,  the  iniquity  practised  in  elections  is  a 
shocking  violation  of  the  very  principles  upon  which  that  species 
of  voting  is  founded.  I  could  dilate  this  subject  by  a  train  of  rea- 
soning, and  a  detail  of  facts  which  fully  convince  my  mind. 

Our  sleighinG:  I  believe  is  about  leaving:  us,  which  will  make 
us  very  dull  here;  but  I  shall  not  regret  a  little  respite.  Solitude 
has  its  charms  and  its  advantages.  ^'  JYunquam  minus  solus,  quam 
cum  solus/^  said  the  old  Philosopher.  I  can  frequently  say  the  same 
thin"".     Adieu !     Believe  me  with  affection  and  solicitude, 

Your  sincere  friend, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

TO  THE  SAME. 

Kinderhook,  2d  March,  1789. 
My  dear  Harry  : 

I  received  from  you  yesterday  a  short  letter  with  a  number  of 
inclosures,  which  were  immediately  delivered  according  to  their 
respective  address.  Your  anxiety  to  hear  from  me  must  have  been 
gratified  by  the  long  letter  I  wrote  to  you  the  22d,  by  Mr.  De  Witt 
Chnton.  This  anxiety  is  certainly  very  flattering  to  me,  because, 
it  induces  a  belief  that  you  read  my  letters  with  attention;  other- 
wise you  would  not  certainly  wish  me  to  write  them.  Under  that 
idea,  writing  to  you  will  always  be  a  pleasure  to  my  mind,  what- 
ever it  may  be  to  my  eyes.  On  a  contrary  supposition,  it  would 
be  a  burthen  to  both.  The  fact  of  attention  or  inattention  can  in 
the  dernier  resort  be  decided  only  by  the  tribunal  within  your  own 
breast.  Presumptions  arising  from  circumstances,  whether  light, 
probable,  or  violent,  (I  talk  in  the  language  of  our  profession,)  must 
yield  to  this  decision.  Examine  yourself  well,  for  remember  that 
a  man  is  not  a  greater  stranger  to  another  than  the  same  man  is  to 
himself,  without  a  great  deal  of  self-examination.  Young  men  de- 
spise the  notions  of  old  ones  as  they  do  the  cut  and  fashion  of  their 
coats;  but  believe  me  a  little  prudence  will  not  incumber  you,  nor 


PETER      VAN      S  C  II  A  A  C  K  .  43 1 

a  hahit  of  attention  destroy  the  politeness  of  your  manners,  nor  the 
gracefulness  of  your  address. 

\Ve(hiesday  next*  uill  be  a  great  day  at  New- York,  and  for 
all  America.  Jam  nova  progenies  aelo  diniittltur  ah  alio — Ealo 
jjerjyelua  ! 

Adieu  !     Yours  afTcctionately, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

On  the  27th  day  of  April,  1789,  Mr.  Van  Schaack  was  mar- 
ried to  Elizabeth  Van  Alen,  the  daughter  of  a  reputable  farmer 
residing  in  the  town  of  Kinderhook.  This  lady  not  only  bore  the 
same  name  with  the  first  Mrs.  Van  Schaack ;  she  possessed  the 
same  lovely  disposition,  and  the  like  crowning  virtues,  which 
ripened  into  an  elevated  Christian  character,  and  rendered  her  an 
object  of  the  highest  respect  and  regaid  to  all  around  her.  "  Her 
sweetness  of  disposition,  goodness  of  heart  and  attention  to  her 
business  as  the  mistress  of  a  family,"  (as  described  by  him  in  a 
letter  at  this  period,)  were  to  him  "  invaluable  qualities,"  and, 
until  death  severed  the  tender  tie,  he  experienced  in  her  society 
what  was  his  leading  object  in  forming  the  connection — "  a  tran- 
quil, contented  life." 

TO   HENRY  VAN    SCHAACK. 

Kinderhook,  2d  May,  1789. 
My  dear  Brother  : 

I  refer  you  to  the  letter  you  will  receive  herewith,  only  adding 
that  all  my  favorable  hopes  with  respect  to  my  wife  are  every  day 
and  every  hour  more  and  more  accomplished.  I  am  as  happy  a 
man  as  any  in  the  United  States,  or  the  united  state  either.  My 
mind  has  resumed  a  tranquillity  it  has  long  been  a  stranger  to,  and 
I  trust  in  God,  and  the  principles  I  judge  from,  that  it  will  remain 
so.  She  is  certainly  one  of  the  best  girls  in  the  world,  and  I  am 
persuaded  she  will  not  only  manage  my  family  as  an  excellent 
housekeeper,  but  besides  being  a  pleasing  companion  to  me,  will 
make  an  easy  figure  at  the  head  of  my  table.  The  happiness 
of  life  is  composed  of  a  thousand  little  ingredients,  which  are  of 

*  The  day  fixed  by  Congress  for  commencing  proceedings  under  the  Fed- 
eral Constitution. 


432  THE      LIFE      OF 

more  weiglit  taken  together  than  a  brilliant,  elegant  appearance. 
She  begins  already  to  acquire  a  degree  of  confidence,  which, 
grounded  upon  a  great  share  of  native  modesty,  and  even  timidity, 
will  form  an  agreeable  character.  You  and  my  dear  sister  w^ould 
rejoice,  if  you  knew  how^  virtuously  happy  I  am.  What  an  admi- 
rable thing  is  a  virtuous  education  and  a  virtuous  example !  How 
different  the  qualities  to  inspire  a  lasting  esteem,  and  those  which 
excite  a  transient  admiration  !  She.  too,  is  perfectly  happy,  which 
manifests  itself  in  marks  of  sensibility,  that  she  is  not  perhaps  sup- 
posed to  possess.  Excuse  me,  but  the  subject  is  truly  interesting. 
I  hope  you  will  get  the  President's  speech.  What  a  noble 
character ! 

Yours  affectionately,  P.  V.  S. 

FROM  PETER    SILVESTER* 

Xew-York,  26th  May,  1789. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  your  agreeable  favor  of  the  20th 
instant  -,  it  made  me  the  more  happy,  as  I  find  you  are  so,  in  the 
choice  you  have  made.  I  congratulate  you  both,  on  this  joyful 
occasion  ;  and  may  you  both  continue  to  possess  every  felicity  that 
attends  the  state  of  matrimony.  Make  my  most  respectful  com- 
pliments to  the  lady,  in  a  manner  yet  a  stranger  almost  to  me,  and 
I  hope  she  will  make  up  for  my  absence,  (and  by  that  means  de- 
prived of  her  company,)  by  visiting  my  house,  and  cultivating 
friendship  and  good  neighborhood  with  the  mistress  of  it.  You 
now,  sir,  will  be  well  settled,  and  partake  of  those  comforts  and 
pleasures  at  home  that  cannot  be  found  abroad.  Domestic  life 
may  be  chequered  with  some  troubles  and  anxieties,  but  ought  we 
to  receive  so  much  good  and  repine  at  trivial  evils  ?  You  can 
easier  understand  all  these  things  than  I  can  describe  them,  or 
have  leisure  to  express  them  more  clearly. 

I  really  think  the  President!  deserves  all  the  encomiums  you 
bestow  on  him :  and  I  heartily  join  you  in  the  wish,  that  he  may 
long  live  as  a  blessing  to  his  country.  It  is  impossible  to  describe 
the  joy  in  every  countenance,  at  the  different  times  of  his  arrival 

*  Attending  Congress  at  New- York.  t  Washington. 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  433 

and  inauguration,  and  the  decency  and  decorum  observed  by  all 
orders  ;  and  then,  at  the  delivery  of  his  iipeech  to  both  houses,  you 
would  have  been  struck  with  wonder  and  admiration  at  his  modest, 
and  at  the  same  time  the  affecting  and  majestic  manner  in  which 
he  delivered  it.  He  is  a  man  of  virtue  and  religion.  He  attends 
divine  service  constantly,  morning  and  afternoon,  every  Sunday. 
To-day  some  debates  took  place  respecting  a  compensation  to  be 
allowed  him,  but  it  was  postponed,  and  referred  to  a  committee  to 
report  upon  that  and  allowances  to  senators  and  representatives. 

The  contested  election  respecting  Mr.  Smith  from  Carolina 
was  determined  in  his  favor  ;  it  was  something  of  a  nice  question, 
but  I  was  clear  enough  in  my  own  mind.  It  was  almost  unanimous. 
If  I  can  make  time  before  I  close  this  I  shall  give  you  a  short  state 
of  his  case. 

The  Jersey  contested  election  is  referred  to  a  committee  to  hear 
and  report  facts.  The  impost  bill  has  passed  one  house,  but  the 
bill  for  collecting  that  impost  is  not  yet  finished.  It  is  determined 
in  our  house,  that  there  shall  be  three  great  departments,  one  for 
Foreign  Aff'airs,  one  for  War,  and  one  for  the  Treasury,  and  each  to 
have  a  head.  It  was  moved  for  a  fourth,  to  wit,  for  Domestic  Af- 
fairs ;  the  last  is  not  yet  determined  by  our  house,  and  if  it  is  not 
made  out  clearly  to  be  necessary  at  present,  it  will  not,  I  believe, 
be  allowed.  I  have  not  seen  Mr.  Jay  once  since  I  have  been  here, 
though  I  waited  on  him  at  his  house  and  left  a  card.  I  shall  do 
what  you  request  respecting  th?  laws,  and  am,  with  salutations  to 
your  bride, 

Your  friend,  well-wisher,  and 

Humble  servant, 
P.  Silvester. 

TO  HENRY  VAN  SCHAACK. 

Kinderhook,  1th  February,  1790. 
My  dear  Brother  : 

General  Schuyler  informs  me  that  he  has  written  to  you  and 
analyzed  Hamilton's  report ;  and  he  asks  my  opinion  upon  that 
important  subject.  I  give  it  as  my  opinion  that  it  is,  in  my  apprehen- 
sion, unexceptionable.  The  adoption  of  it  is  I  believe  pretty  certain. 
Public  credit  will  rest  on  a  sure  basis,  because  founded  on  public 

55 


434  THE      LIFE      OF 

justice  and  good  faith.  Hamilton  seems  to  have  profited  by  the 
practice  of  the  wisest  European  nations,  England  especially.  His 
language  relative  to  the  funds,  is  the  more  intelligible  to  me  from 
my  having  been  a  witness  of  buying,  selling  and  transferring  stock 
in  the  market.  Sedgwick  tells  me  the  business  will  resolve  itself 
into  four  points.  1.  Whether  there  shall  be  any  discrimination. 
2.  Shall  the  interest  due  be  converted  into  capital  ?  3.  Shall  the 
State  debts  be  assumed  ?  and,  4.  What  shall  be  the  rate  of  interest? 
He  is  for  the  affirmative  in  every  one  of  these  points ;  the  two  first 
he  thinks  will  be  generally  agreed  to,  not  so  the  third  and  fourth. 
The  accession  of  Rhode  Island,  he  thinks  next  to  certain,  and  the 
Vermont  business  is  to  be  taken  up  very  soon. 

New^-York  is  a  most  important  theatre  just  now.  The  general 
government  seems  to  carry  all  before  it.  The  criminal  code  isto 
be  taken  up,  as  is  the  militia  arrangement,  very  soon.  The  terrors 
of  the  law  will  hang  over  evil  doers.  My  hopes  of  wise  measures 
are  very  strong.  Never  was  there  a  country,  I  believe,  where  the 
public  offices  of  state  were  filled  with  such  talents.  The  Supreme 
and  District  courts  are  opened ;  in  the  latter  the  grand-jury  are 
now  sitting.  I  long  to  see  the  Judge's  charge.  I  have  had  but 
one  w^ish,  and  that  is  that  the  commonalty  may  see  the  measures 
pursued  in  their  true  light.  They  will  suspect  that  the  funding  of 
the  public  debt  is  to  enrich  individuals.  That  may  be  the  conse- 
quence, but  not  the  motive.  What  else  can  be  done  1  The  virgin 
measures  of  the  new  government,  like  the  virgin  treaty  of  the  late 
Congress,  should  be  pure  and  inviolable.  Much  specie  is  expected, 
and  w^ith  good  reason,  from  foreign  countries,  as  soon  as  public 
credit  is  established. 

Adieu.     Our  love  to  you  and  yours. 

Affectionately  yours, 

P.  V.  S. 

TO  JOHN  JAY. 

Kinderhook,  20th  Sept.,  1791. 
Dear  Sir  : 

Various  causes,  some  of  them  of  a  very  unpleasing  kind,  have 

prevented  my  answering  your  favor  of  the  15th  July  till  this  late 

moment.     I  thank  you,  however,  most  sincerely  for  it.     I  now 


P  E  T  i:  11     VAN     S  C  II  A  A  U  K  .  435 

return  the  pamphlets,  but  without  having  been  able  to  go  through 
them.  I  must  leave  those  great  subjects  to  minds  more  capacious. 
I  own  the  affairs  of  Europe  affect  me  but  little.  My  concern 
about  political  matters  centers  in  my  native  country. 

My  brother  was  made  extremely  happy,  by  the  manner  in 
which  you  mentioned  him  and  the  evening  you  spent  with  him.  I 
fear  that  a  man  who  expresses  pleasure  in  attentions  shown  by 
you^  may  be  suspected  ot"  other  motives  than  friendship,  especially 
in  Massachusetts,  for  no  man,  I  verily  believe,  is  more  admired  and 
esteemed  than  yourself  in  that  commonwealth.  The  confidence  of 
the  people  at  large  in  our  judiciary,  is  perhaps  one  of  the  most 
pleasing  circumstances  attending  our  infant  government.  Indeed, 
the  aspect  of  our  affairs  is  encouraging  in  the  extreme.  May  God 
grant  that  you  may  reap  the  fruit  of  your  labors,  in  seeing  the 
prosperity  of  your  country  established  on  a  firm  basis. 

The  Dutch  prophecy  did  not  come  up  to  what  I  supposed,  nor 
have  I  been  able  to  see  my  kinsman  so  as  to  be  able  to  state  to 
you  what  it  really  is,  which  has  been  one  cause  of  my  not  WTiting 
to  you  before.  I  shall  not  be  unmindful  of  the  conversation  we 
had  when  you  was  here,  if  I  obtain  any  information  on  this  subject 
worthy  of  being  communicated  to  you.  My  wife  thanks  you  for 
your  remembrance  of  her,  and  wishes  you  would  repeat  the  kind 
visit  you  made  us.  I  cannot  express,  my  dear  sir,  how  warmly 
I  join  in  this  wish.  My  brother  and  Mr.  Silvester  thank  you  for 
your  remembrance  of  them,  and  unite  in  compliments.  I  beg  my 
respects  to  Mrs.  Jay,  and  regards  to  my  namesake.  With  the  warm- 
est friendship,  believe  me,  my  dear  sir,  sincerely  yours, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

FROM  THEODORE   SEDGWICK. 

Philadelphia,  20th  JVov.,  1791. 
My  dear  Sir  : 

I  have  had  the  pleasure  to  see  a  letter  of  yours  addressed  to 
our  friend,  Mr.  Benson.  It  contains  very  curious  information.  I 
will  obey  the  wish  you  express,  to  give  you  some  account  of  the 
doings  of  Congress,  or  rather  of  our  public  affairs. 

You  will  doubtless  have  observed  the  several  important  subjects 
w^hich  the  President  has  recommended  to  consideration  ;  in  addition 


436  THE     LIFE     OF 

to  which,  are  several  others,  viz.,  commercial  arrangements,  the 
judiciary,  and,  what  to  my  mind  is  of  still  greater  importance,  a 
final,  complete  assumption  of  all  the  State  debts.  With  regard  to  the 
first,  it  requires  a  very  serious  attention,  should  not  the  business  be 
settled  by  treaty,  which  will  probably  be  attempted,  with  the 
French  and  English  ministers,  who  have,  it  is  said,  respectively 
powers  on  that  subject.  With  regard  to  Great  Britain,  I  have 
seen  the  substance  of  a  report  of  a  committee  of  privy  council,  by 
which  it  appears  that  the  opinions  of  Lord  Shefllield  have  made  a 
deep  impression  in  that  country,  and  that  his  system,  with  a  few 
deviations  favorable  to  American  commerce,  will  be  a  basis  for  their 
commercial  propositions,  or  treaty  with  this  country.  By  what 
means  I  became  acquainted  with  this  report  I  might  mention  to 
you  was  you  present,  but  I  must  be  excused  from  writing.  I  have 
reason  to  believe,  that  it  is  determined  in  the  cabinet  to  send  min- 
isters to  both  those  countries,  and  I  have  reason  to  believe  the  par- 
ticular characters  are  determined  on,  but  who  they  are  I  could  at 
present  no  more  than  conjecture. 

The  judiciary.  If  any  thing  shall  be  attempted,  the  question 
will  arise  in  the  discussion,  whether  a  reformation  shall  be  attempt- 
ed by  legislating  on  the  constitution  as  it  now  stands,  or  whether 
we  shall  attempt  to  propose  an  amendment  of  it  ?  If  the  former,  I 
much  doubt  whether  any  thing  very  effectual  can  be  done,  because 
the  greatest  embarrassments  seem  to  be  inherent  in  the  nature  of 
the  subject.  They  arise  from  an  administration  of  justice  by  two 
distinct  and  independent  sovereignties  over  the  same  persons,  in 
the  same  place  and  at  the  same  time ;  and  the  necessity  which  will 
exist,  for  the  national  government,  if  it  shall  provide  for  a  complete 
execution  of  its  laws,  of  extending  its  courts  through  the  whole 
extent  of  country,  and  multiplying  its  officers  without  number.  If 
it  shall  be  attempted  to  reform  the  system  by  proposing  an  amend- 
ment, it  may  excite  all  the  agitations  of  federal  and  anti-federal 
passions,  which  now  seem  to  be  dormant,  through  all  the  northern 
and  eastern  States.  In  the  consideration  of  this  subject,  then, 
another  question  presents  itself:  Whether  it  is  not,  on  the  whole, 
most  prudent  to  do  nothing,  until  the  inconveniences  resulting  from 
our  present  situation  shall  be  more  severely  felt  ?  What  say  you, 
my  friend,  to  this  subject  ? 


PETER     VAN     SCHAAGK.  4o7 

With  regard  to  the  assumption  of  the  State  debts,  you  know  it 
has  always  been  among  the  most  ardent  of  my  political  pursuits. 
It  is  true,  that  the  inetjualities  are  not  so  enormous  as  formerly, 
but  still  they  are  infinitely  beyond  what  they  should  be  among  the 
members  of  the  same  nation,  and  are  not  only  unjust  in  themselves, 
but  pregnant  with  the  most  dangerous  consequences.  The  subject 
will  come  forw^ard  in  due  time,  and  I  most  sincerely  wish  it  suc- 
cess. 

Present  me  most  respectfully  to  Mrs.  V.  S.  and  to  your  brother 
and  family,  and  believe  me  sincerely,  with  great  regard, 

Your  affectionate  friend, 

Theodore  Sedgwick. 

At  the  State  election  in  April,  1792,  John  Jay  was  one  of  the 
candidates  for  Governor.  Mr.  Van  Schaack  took  a  deep  interest 
in  the  success  of  his  friend ;  and  after  the  ele^iion  he  wrote  a 
series  of  able  papers  which  were  published,  condemnatory  of  the 
conduct  of  the  canvassers,  by  whom  Mr.  Jay's  opponent  was  de- 
clared to  be  chosen  Governor,  in  consequence  of  alleged  irregu- 
larities in  the  mode  of  returning  the  votes  of  certain  counties, 
although  it  was  universally  conceded  that  Mr.  Jay  had  received  a 
majority  of  the  votes  actually  polled. 

TO  ANDREW  M.   CARSHORE. 

Kinderhoolc,  VSth  April,  1792. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  have  many  apologies  to  make  to  you,  for  my  seeming  inat- 
tention to  your  obliging  letters,  and  the  important  subject  of  them. 
I  beg  you  to  be  assured  that  nothing  but  a  multiplicity  of  business 
of  various  kinds,  but  of  indispensable  pressure,  has  occasioned  my 
silence.  I  could,  indeed,  have  written  to  you  often,  but  it  must 
have  been  with  brevity;  and  anxious  for  a  leisure  hour,  I  postponed 
W' riting,  until  I  am  myself  astonished  at  the  lapse  of  time  which  has 
intervened  since  your  first  favor.  Let  it  however  be  remembered, 
once  for  all,  that  my  silence  indicates  approbation,  and  if  any  use- 
ful hints  which  I  might  possibly  give  are  omitted,  the  fault  must  be 
imputed  to  myself.  Proceed  then,  my  good  sir,  according  to  the 
dictates  of  your  mind,  suggested  by  that  close  and  conscientious 


438  THE     LIFE     OF 

attention,  Avhlcli  you  have  hitherto  bestowed  upon  the  education  of 
my  son.  If  I  comprehend  your  principle,  it  is  conformable  to  that 
of  a  great  writer  who  says,  "  we  should  teach  youth  rather  how  to 
think,  than  ichat  to  think."  I  think  I  perceive  proofs  of  an  activi- 
ty of  mind  in  Cornelius,  which  I  had  the  desire,  though  not  the  suc- 
cess, of  exciting  in  him.  I  have  no  objection  that  his  progress 
should  be  slow,  provided  it  is  sure.  In  the  language  of  the  sailor, 
"  Let  him  belay  all  that."  One  only  of  the  books  sent  for  is  re- 
ceived, the  rest  I  presume  are  not  to  be  had. 

The  leisure  hour  I  have  wished  for  is  not  yet  arrived  :  a  subject 
interests  all  my  feelings,  absorbs  all  my  attention  ; — it  is  the  elec- 
tion of  Mr.  Jay.  Nothing  that  is  sentimental,  can  be  altogether 
foreign  from  a  correspondence  with  you,  and  that  the  present  con- 
test for  the  office  of  Governor,  considering  the  characters  of  the 
competitors,  embraces  the  concerns  of  literature  and  consequently 
education  and  sentiment,  is  an  undoubted  truth.  In  short,  not  only 
the  republic  of  the  state,  but  the  republic  of  letters,  is  interested  in 
the  present  contest.  Mr.  Jay  is  a  man  of  the  first  rate  character;  his 
talents  are  distinguished,  his  acquirements  are  extensive,  and  both 
conspire  to  qualify  him  for  a  patron  of  the  arts  and  sciences.  His 
capacity  for  legislation,  and  for  negotiation,  has  been  conspicuously 
displayed  In  the  formation  of  our  state  constitution,  and  in  the  com- 
pletion of  a  treaty  of  peace  with  one  of  the  greatest  nations  of  the 
world  ;  but  what  adorns  his  character  beyond  all  praise,  is  the  pu- 
rity of  his  Integrity,  his  unwearied  observance  of  every  precept  of 
morality,  and  above  all,  his  firm  adherence  in  practice,  as  well  as  in 
argument,  to  the  doctrines  of  Christianity.  Indeed,  revealed  reli- 
gion has  hardly  a  more  able  advocate  than  is  Mr.  Jay,  nor  one  who 
more  readily  steps  forward  not  only  against "  the  puny  mites  of  skep- 
ticism," (as  Dr.  Young  calls  them,)  but  against  the  giants  of  Deism 
and  infidelity.  Excuse  me  for  saying  thus  much  of  a  man  whom 
I  love,  because  I  know  him ;  and  whom  I  know,  because  I  have 
been  acquainted  with  him,  almost  from  childhood.  It  is  a  pleasing 
consideration,  and  a  favorable  indication  of  the  situation  of  our 
country,  in  a  view  to  its  moral  character,  that  this  merit  is  so  uni- 
versally acknowledged,  even  when  contenchng  with  "  principalities 
and  powers."  As  a  political  question,  whether  this  or  that  man 
should  be  in  office,  I  should  not  have  troubled  you  with  my  obser- 


PETER      VAN      S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  439 

vations  upon  it ;  but  in  lliu  lii2;lit  I  have  above  considered  it,  I  pre- 
sume it  cannot  be  an  uninterestini;  subject  to  you,  whether  suck  a 
man,  succeeds  or  not:  but  even  in  a  view  purely  pohtical,  it  is,  1 
conceive, "  congenial  to  our  re[)ublican  I'orin  oi'  governujent,"  to  pre- 
vent a  permanency  in  olfice,  and  the  rather  when  a  claim  of  right 
is  founded  upon  enjoyment,  which  itself  arose  from  the  gratuitous 
act  of  the  people,  and  when  a  tenaciousnessis  displayed  of  retaining 
it,  against  the  wishes  of  very  considerable  numbers,  even  though 
they  should  not,  in  the  event,  prove  a  majority.  An  officer,  on  such 
an  occasion,  should  rather  voluntarily  relinquish,  than  pertinaciously 
persevere,  consoling  himself,  with  the  mens  sibi  conscia  recti, 
and  in  retirement  enjoy  otiu?Ji  cum  dignitate.  Such  a  man 
might  at  a  future  day,  like  Cincinnatus  of  old,  or  a  Washington  in 
modern  times,  from  the  plough  be  called  into  public  action. 

I  beg  my  respectful  compliments  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gebhard,  to 
whose  oblio-ino:  favor  of  the  vines,  I  am  much  indebted  ;  and  also 
to  Mrs.  Carshore,  and  am. 

Dear  sir,  your  sincere  w^ell  wisher  and  humble  servant, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

It  now  becomes  us  to  speak  of  Mr.  Van  Schaack  as  a  lawyer. 
The  reputation  which  he  had  acquired  before  the  Revolution,  had 
placed  him  in  a  high  rank  in  his  profession,  and  upon  resuming 
the  practice,  on  his  return  from  his  exile,  his  office  was  soon 
filled  with  clients,  and  he  wrote  to  a  friend,  in  his  classical  style, 
and  by  way  of  apology  for  neglect  in  his  correspondence,  that  he 
was  "  kept  up  to  the  eyebrows  in  papers,  which  ought  to  produce 
a  golden  showier,  which  you  know  is  not  less  pleasing  in  these  days 
than  it  was  in  those  of  Danae  of  old." 

The  author  must  here  express  his  utter  inability  to  do  justice  to 
Mr.  Van  Schaack's  reputation  as  a  lawyer.  On  this  subject,  he 
has  been  favored  with  letters  from  distinguished  gentlemen  of  the 
profession,  which  will  be  placed  before  the  reader.  It  should  be 
remarked,  that  there  were  no  written  reports  of  cases  argued  and 
decided  in  the  courts  of  this  State,  until  about  fifteen  years  after 
Mr.  Van  Schaack  resumed  the  practice,  and  at  that  time  the  sight 
of  his  left  eye  also  had  become  seriously  impaired.  His  name, 
therefore;  rarely  appears  in  the  books. 


440  THE     LIFE      OF 


FROINI  AMBROSE  SPENCER. 

Albany,  JVov.  ISth. 
Dear  Sik  : 

I  received  your  letter  of  the  19th  of  February  last,  soon  after 
its  date,  and  had  intended  a  much  earlier  notice  of  it,  but  procras- 
tination has  produced  a  delay  of  which  I  really  feel  ashamed,  and 
beg  you  to  attribute  it  to  any  other  cause  than  indifference  to  the 
subject  to  which  you  invite  my  attention.  I  appreciate  properly, 
your  anxiety  to  be  informed  of  such  events  as  your  late  father's 
contemporaries  may  have  knowledge  of,  tending  to  illustrate  his 
character.  Although  I  feel  an  ardent  desire  to  comply  with  your 
request,  yet  I  cannot  but  regret  that  my  information  will  be  mea- 
gre. I  became  acquainted  with  your  father  in  1786,  not  howxver 
intimately  so,  until  1792,  or  1793. 

That  your  father  was  a  finished  classical  scholar,  a  learned  and 
profound  lawyer,  and  one  of  the  most  upright  and  conscientious  of 
men,  no  man  w^ho  knew  him  well,  will  hesitate  to  admit.  He  was 
an  extremely  diffident  man  ;  in  fact  I  never  knew  a  man  possessed 
of  his  acquirements,  both  as  a  general  scholar  and  jurist,  so  modest 
and  unassuming.  I  have  often  heard  him  address  a  court  and 
jury  with  great  effect,  but  wdth  evident  pain  and  reluctance,  so 
difficult  was  it  for  him  to  overcome  his  diffidence.  His  manner 
w^as  cool  and  unimpassioned,  his  language  choice,  even  to  fastidi- 
ousness, his  reasoning  clear,  close  and  logical.  He  w^as  always 
listened  to  wdth  delight,  and  his  influence  with  both  court  and  jury 
w^as  unsurpassed.  He  was  for  many  years  the  father  of  the  bar  in 
Columbia  county,  and  no  man  could  be  more  admired,  honored 
and  beloved  by  his  junior  brethren.  He  patronized,  encouraged, 
and  animated  the  younger  members  of  the  bar,  by  his  advice, 
countenance  and  protection,  and  instdled  into  their  minds  correct 
notions  of  the  honor  and  dignity  of  the  profession,  and  in  fact  he 
was  a  model  for  their  imitation.  It  is  due  from  me  to  acknow- 
ledge to  his  son,  that  1  feel  myself  deeply  indebted  to  his  example 
and  friendly  counsels,  for  any  distinction  I  may  have  acquired  in 
my  professional  career,  and  hence  I  loved  and  venerated  him  to 
the  last  moment  of  his  life. 

The  Constitution  of  the  United  States  was  adopted  by  the  Con- 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  44 1 

vcnllnii  of  this  vSlate,  in  17SS.  T  was  then  a  very  younrr  man, 
just  entering;  on  the  profession  ol'  tht;  law,  and  resided  in  JIudson. 
I  well  know  that  your  lather  was  a  zealous  advocate  for  the  adop- 
tion of  the  constitution,  and  promoted,  as  far  as  in  him  lay,  its  adop- 
tion by  the  people.  He  wrote,  accord incj  to  my  best  recollection, 
several  able  essays  addressed  to  the  public,  urging;  its  adoption. 
Several  of  them,  I  am  persuaded,  will  be  found  in  a  pa})er  publish- 
ed by  a  Mr.  Stoddard,  who  now  resides  in  Hudson,  and  can  proba- 
bly point  out  such  as  were  the  production  of  your  father's  pen. 

Your  father's  vision  was  imperfect  when  I  first  knew  him,  but 
gradually  became  worse  and  worse  until  he  was  entirely  blind. 
This  calamity,  connected  with  that  native  diffidence  which  I  have 
already  mentioned,  were  great  impediments  in  his  professional  ca- 
reer, and  undoubtedly  prevented  his  attaining  that  proud  eminence 
which  his  great  talents  w^ould  otherwise  have  won  for  him. 

I  am  fully  aware  that  you  will  be  disappointed  in  your  expec- 
tations from  me,  and  I  regret  that  I  am  unable  to  give  you  any 
further  aid.  There  are  indeed  many  incidents  treasured  up  in  my 
mind,  which  can  never  be  eradicated  ;  but  they  are  not  of  sufficient 
importance  to  be  told.  I  know  nothing  about  your  father's  editing 
the  Conductor  Generalis ;  if  he  was  the  editor,  it  was  probably 
before  the  Revolution.  The  work  w^as  a  very  useful  one,  and 
especially  for  magistrates. 

I  am  very  truly  and  respectfully  yours, 
H.  C.   Van  Schaack,  Esquire.  A.  Spencer. 

FROM  JAMES  VANDERPOEL. 

Mbany,  20th  April,  1839. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  write  wath  great  difficulty,*  or  I  would  have  sent  you  an 
earlier  answer.  I  have  frequently  made  an  effort  to  write,  but 
have  as  often  been  obliged  to  desist.  Upon  the  receipt  of  your 
letter,  I  flattered  myself  that  I  should  have  been  able  to  go  more 
into  detail,  as  it  regards  your  father's  character  as  a  lawyer,  but 
owing  to  the  difficulties  I  have  mentioned,  I  can  merely  give  you 
a  short  sketch. 

After  I  settled  in  Kinderhook,  your  father  was  not  in  the  habit 

*  Judge  Vanderpoel  was  laboring  at  this  period,  under  a  stroke  of  par- 
alysis, from  which  he  has  not  recovered. 

56 


442  THE     LIFE     OF 

of  addressing  juries  at  the  circuit,  or  arguing  causes  at  term.     I 
recollect,  however,  two  occasions  on  which  he  addressed  the  jury 
as  opening^  counsel.     The  first  was  in  the  cause  of  Tryon  vs.  Mc- 
Mechan,  and  the  other  in  what  is  generally  terraed  the  De  Bruyn 
cause.     He  was  extremely  dignified  and  impressive  in  his  manner, 
lucid  in  his  arrangement,  and  choice  and  elegant  in  his  diction. 
He  was  employed  in  almost  every  important  cause  in  the  county 
of  Columbia  until  a  very  late  period  of  his  life,  especially  such  in 
which  title  to  real  estate  was  involved.     I  was  upon  several  occa- 
sions associated  with  him,  and  I  can  safely  say,  that  I  never  knew 
a  lawyer  who  investigated  a  cause  more  effectually  and  thoroughly. 
He  not  only  established  his  ow^n  propositions  by  legal  deductions 
and  authority,  but  anticipated  and  obviated  every  objection  of  his 
adversary.     His  briefs  were  models  of  deep  research  and  learning, 
and  not  unfrequently  of  classic  elegance.     He  was  respected  by  all 
the  distinguished  men  of  the  day,  (among  whom  it  is  sufficient 
merely  to  mention  the  names  of  Kent  and  Spencer,)  as  a  learned 
jurist  and  accomplished  scholar. 

Pardon  this  almost  illegible  letter.  I  thought  it  would  not  an- 
sw^er  you  any  purpose  if  I  delayed  any  longer,  and  you  must  there- 
fore take  it  as  it  is.  Your  friend, 

H.  C.  Van  Schaack,  Esq.  J.  Vanderpoel. 

"  As  a  jurist,  Peter  Van  Schaack  w^as  distinguished  by  the  ex- 
tent and  depth  of  his  learning — particularly  in  the  law  of  real 
estate — and  by  the  accuracy  and  admirable  method  with  which 
he  performed  the  duties  of  his  profession.  His  opinions  and  other 
papers  on  legal  subjects  were  always  drawn  up  with  logical  pre- 
cision, and  in  a  style  of  peculiar  purity  and  elegance.  He  was 
also  a  fine  classical  scholar,  and  was  extensively  familiar  with 
English  literature.  These  accomplishments,  so  rare  in  the  legal 
profession,  and  so  ornamental  when  possessed,  in  connection  with 
his  profound  knowledge  of  the  law,  procured  for  him  from  Co- 
lumbia College  the  honorary  degree  of  '  Doctor  of  Laws.'  He 
was  one  of  the  oldest  surviving  alumni  of  that  venerable  institu- 
tion, which  has  produced  few  names  of  which  it  has  greater  reason 
to  be  proud."* 

*  From  an   ol)ituary  notice    written  by  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  Esq.,  which 
appeared  in  the  Kinderhook  Sentinel  on  Mr.  V.  S.'s  decease. 


PKTER      VAN     SCHAACK.  443 

It  was  said  of  Mr.  Van  Schaack  as  a  lawyer,  by  one  wlio  lield 
an  honorable  rank  in  the  profession,*  that  "  he  never  erred.'^ 
While  it  will  not  be  pretended,  (nor  was  it  the  intention  of  the 
speaker  that  it  should  be  so  received,)  that  this  was  literally  true, 
yet  the  strong  ex])ression  conveys  an  idea  of  his  professional  accu- 
racy, and  that  profound  knowledge  of  the  law,  and  the  apt  dis- 
crimination in  the  a})plication  of  its  principles,  for  which  he  was 
distinguished.  It  is  rare  for  a  member  of  the  profession  to  secure 
such  a  universal  confidence  in  his  advice  and  legal  opinions  j  and 
he  was  known  far  and  wide  as  "  the  great  lawyer.^' 

The  same  individual  represented  Mr.  Van  Schaack  as  not  hav- 
ing been  a  great  speaker, — that  he  never  aimed  at  eloquence ;  but 
was  remarkable  for  his  uniform  correctness  and  classical  diction ; 
that  he  never  dilated  much,  but  w^as  brief  and  to  the  point ;  that 
he  could  make  a  powerful  argument  to  the  court,  but  he  was  not 
so  great  before  a  jury.  Alexander  Hamilton  expressed  his  admi- 
ration of  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  manner  of  speaking,  and  of  the  sound- 
ness and  accuracy  of  his  views  on  all  questions  of  civil  jurispru- 
dence. His  veneration  for  the  science  which  he  had  selected  for 
his  profession,  is  illustrated  by  an  anecdote  which  is  related  of  him, 
and  which  is  well  authenticated,  that  in  a  case  in  which  he  was 
the  party  in  interest,  and  with  the  equity  on  his  side,  he  refused 
to  take  advantage  of  an  opening,  (which  any  other  lawyer  would 
have  improved,)  because  it  would  violate  an  abstract  principle  of 
the  common  law. 

As  early  as  1792,  his  vision  had  become  so  much  impaired,  as 
to  render  necessary  the  employment  of  an  amanuensis.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1791,  he  wrote  to  his  friend  Theodore  Sedgwick,  that  his 
"  epistolary  pleasures  were  at  an  end."  Yet  he  did  write  some 
letters  with  his  own  hand  after  this  period,  and  a  volume  would 
not  contain  those  he  wrote  by  the  aid  of  the  friendly  hand  of  others. 
He  continued,  however,  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profession  for 
twenty  years  afterwards,  by  which  time  he  had  become  almost 
totally  blind. 

From  the  period  of  his  resuming  his  profession  in   1786,  until 
1828,  when  he  had  reached  his  8 1st  year,  he  was  not  without  one 
or  more  law  students.     Nearly  a  hundred  young  gentlemen  have 
*"  Egbert  Benson,  the  first  Attorney  General  of  the  State  of  New- York. 


444  THE      LIFE     OF 

served  all  or  part  of  their  terras  of  clerkship  under  his  immediate 
charge  and  instruction.  His  qualifications  as  a  teacher  of  the 
science  of  law  commanded  universal  respect  and  confidence  with 
gentlemen  of  the  profession ;  and  he  was  pre-eminently  fitted  for 
the  task.  Among  the  distinguished  jurists  who  have  testified  their 
high  estimation  of  those  endowments,  by  placing  their  sons  under 
his  charge  for  legal  instruction,  were  Theodore  Sedgwick,  Rufus 
King,  William  W.  Van  Ness,  James  Kent,  and  Ambrose  Spencer. 
An  extract  will  now  be  given  from  a  letter,  written  July  24th, 
1820,  by  the  last  named  gentleman  to  his  son,  who  was  at  that 
time  studying  law  w^ith  Mr.  Van  Schaack  : 

"  I  am  sensible  of  the  advantages  you  enjoy  under  such  an  able 
and  amiable  instructer  as  Mr.  Van  Schaack;  and  you  cannot  flatter 
me  more,  than  by  supposing  that  his  devotedness  to  you  arises 
partly  from  his  friendship  to  your  father.  It  has  been  my  pride  to 
be  marked  with  the  friendship  of  such  a  man  in  such  times;  and 
although  Mr.  Van  Schaack  and  I  have  generally  differed  in  our 
views  of  things,  politically  speaking,  it  has  never,  as  far  as  I  know, 
affected  our  private  regard.  On  my  part,  I  am  certain,  that  from 
my  earliest  acquaintance  with  him,  which  has  been  for  more  than 
thirty  years,  I  have  never  ceased  to  admire  and  respect  him.  I  have 
never  been  his  pupil,  and  yet  I  must  acknowledge  that  I  have 
caught  much  from  him.  When  he  was  at  the  bar,  he  helped  to 
mould  the  young  men  of  his  time.  He  was  urbane  and  very  com- 
municative, and  in  justice  to  him  I  say,  that  his  example  has  ma- 
terially influenced  my  legal  acquirements." 

He  continued  to  give  counsel  in  his  profession,  and  occasion- 
ally gave  w^'itten  opinions  in  critical  cases,  until  he  had  reached 
fourscore.  For  the  last  fifteen  years  of  his  life,  however,  he  did 
not  keep  an  ofhce  for  the  transaction  of  that  branch  of  the  business 
of  the  profession  more  properly  belonging  to  ih^  attorney.  For  the 
benefit  of  those  students  who  wished  to  acquire  a  knowledge  of  the 
practice,  he  had  compiled  an  "Analysis  of  the  Practice  of  the  Su- 
preme Court,"  in  which  the  general  principles  of  that  branch  of 
the  profession  were  laid  down  with  great  clearness  and  precision, 
and  the  various  steps  in  a  suit  were  pointed  out,  explained  and  an- 
alyzed, in  a  manner  calculated  to  present  to  the  mind  a  connected 
and  short-hand  view  of  what  was  actually  done  in  the  conduct  of 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  445 

a  suit.  This  little  work,  although  not  drawn  up  in  a  form  suitable 
for  publication,  possessed  a  great  share  of  merit,  and  was  higlily 
useful  to  his  students,  particularly  in  connection  with  his  explana- 
tions and  amplifications,  and  other  oral  instructions.  It  avoided 
the  objection  of  generalization,  and  of  burying  up  in  words,  (the 
common  error  of  most  books  of  practice,)  and  gave  the  student  a 
birdseye  view  of  the  course  of  a  suit,  exhibiting  the  different  steps 
actually  taken,  in  a  manner  tangible  and  calculated  to  make  a  per- 
manent lodo-ment  in  the  student's  mind. 

FROM  JAMES  KENT. 

Albany,  June  11th,  1821. 
Dear  Sir: 

I  arrived  here  yesterday  from  New-York,  and  found  my  son  at 
my  house.  I  was  very  happy  to  see  him,  and  to  find  him  in  good 
health  and  spirits,  and  much  pleased  with  his  residence  at  Kinder- 
hook,  and  with  the  society  with  which  he  associates,  and  above  all 
with  your  course  of  instruction.  He  showed  me  part  of  his  com- 
pilation from  your  Analysis  of  the  Practice  of  the  Supreme  Court, 
and  I  was  very  much  pleased  with  the  clear,  methodical  and  per- 
fectly correct  view  of  the  principles  and  rules  of  the  practice,  which 
the  analysis  unfolds.  I  feel  grateful  for  the  kinthiess  you  have 
showed  in  loco  parentis,  and  if  I  can  but  find  that  my  son  is  ardent 
and  accurate  in  research,  and  cultivates  at  the  same  time,  and  with 
equal  ardor,  his  moral  and  classical  taste,  all  my  anxious  hopes  will 
be  fulfilled.  I  hope  to  have  the  pleasure  of  visiting  you  before 
long,  and  in  the  mean  time  believe  me,  to  be 

Yours  very  sincerely, 

James  Kent. 
Peter  Van  Schaack,  Esq. 

Many  of  his  law  students,  and  particularly  those  who  were  poor, 
were  instructed  in  that  science  without  any  compensation;  and  his 
faithfulness  and  zeal  were  not  at  all  lessened  in  prospect  of  such  a 
result.  To  the  parents  of  most  of  the  others  he  usually  left  it  to 
fix  the  amount,  and  if  put  to  himself,  it  was  always  moderate,  and 
he  was  ever  ready  to  make  a  deduction  from  the  charge  upon  any 
equitable  suggestion,  or  to  conform  to  the  views  of  his  employer. 

It  was  a  pleasing  circumstance,  to  notice  the  high  respect  and 


446  THE     LIFE     OF 

regard  which  his  students  retained  for  their  venerated  instructer, 
in  after  life.  The  following  letter  furnishes  one  of  numerous  evi- 
dences of  this  fact. 

TO  PETER  VAN  SCHAACK. 

Auburn,  19 th  October,  1821. 
Respected  and  esteemed  Sir  : 

It  is  w^ith  the  greatest  satisfaction  that  I  recur  to  the  time  which 
I  passed  with  you,  my  dear  sir,  in  the  pursuit  of  knowledge  which 
you  were  so  well  calculated  to  impart.  Not  the  least  part  of  the 
pleasure  I  feel,  is  caused  by  a  recurrence  to  those  scenes  in  which 
you  displayed  your  friendship  for  me,  and  by  which  I  was  led  to 
feel  that  reverence  and  friendship  for  you,  which  now  actuates  me 
in  writing  to  you.  I  this  day  had  occasion  to  refer  to  your  excel- 
lent treatise  on  the  practice  of  our  courts,  and  the  recollections 
caused  by  it  roused  me  to  the  consciousness  that  I  had  neglected  to 
inform  one  of  my  best  friends  of  my  situation  in  life,  so  totally 
different  from  every  former  one.  It  is  with  regret  I  feel  I  have  to 
apologize,  but  must  plead  my  excessive  ill  health  and  depression  of 
spirits  in  excuse. 

It  would  afford  me  great  satisfaction  to  receive  a  letter  from 
you.  Could  I  portray  the  feelings  of  my  heart  towards  you  ; 
my  esteem  ;  the  gratitude  your  attention  to  my  education  excites 
within  me,  and  my  sense  of  the  delicacy  which  you  have  always 
observed  towards  me  ;  I  should  be  in  some  measure  satisfied.  My 
present  feelings  towards  you,  sir,  I  hope  to  carry  with  me  to  my 
grave.  

When  in  the  eighty-second  year  of  his  age,  Mr.  Van  Schaack 
might  be  seen  in  his  study,  with  his  law  students  around  him,  im- 
parting instruction.  On  the  19th  April,  1828,  he  wrote  to  a  for- 
mer student*  for  whom  he  had  a  great  regard,  and  who  was  one 
of  his  principal  correspondents  in  his  old  age  :  "  You  see  that  like 
an  old  coachman  who  loves  the  smack  of  his  whip,  I  still  have  some 
professional  regards — indeed  I  have  some  professional  occupations, 
as  I  have  two  students,  on  whom  I  bestow  much  of  my  time  and 
attention,  of  which  I  trust  they  will  enjoy  the  fruits." 

♦Frederic  De  Peyster,  Esq.,  New- York. 


r  K  r  K  K     VAN     S  C  H  A  A  C  K  .  447 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

]\Ir.  Van  Schaack  passed  through  several  very  severe  and  try- 
ing scenes  of  affliction,  after  his  return  from  England.  In  Febru- 
ary, 1797,  while  from  home  on  his  way  to  attend  court,  he  was 
roused  from  his  slumbers  at  midnight,  by  a  messenger  apprisino- 
him  that  his  oldest  son,  then  in  his  twenty-ninth  year,  had  been 
seized  with  an  apoplectic  fit.  He  died  before  his  father  reached 
home.  This  was  a  severe  stroke.  He  was  the  son  who  had  been 
the  object  of  such  anxious  and  tender  solicitude  during  his  exile  in 
England,  and  upon  whose  education  so  much  of  his  attention  had 
been  bestowed.  Two  of  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  children  were  at  New- 
York  at  the  time,  and  to  them  he  addressed  the  following  letters, 
which  were  preceded  by  one  to  a  friend  requesting  him  to  prepare 
their  minds  for  the  sad  tidings. 

TO   CORNELIUS  AND  ELIZABETH  VAN    SCHAACK. 

Kinder/wok,  6th  February,  1797. 
My  dear  Children  : 

To-morrow  I  suppose  you  will  hear  of  the  melancholy  event  in 
our  family,  which  has  filled  us  all  with  the  deepest  affliction.  This 
is  a  call  upon  your  fortitude,  and  I  pray  God  that  you  may  be  able 
to  bear  the  stroke  with  resignation,  and  submission  to  the  will  of 
that  Being  from  w^iom  we  receive  life,  and  to  whom  we  must  re- 
sign it ;  who  knows  better  than  we  do  ourselves,  what  is  for  our 
good,  and  w^ho  frequently  sends  us  blessings,  when  he  most  afflicts 
us.  "  Thy  will  be  done,"  must  be  the  aspiration  of  your  hearts. 
To-morrow  will  be  performed  the  last  sad  offices  to  your  departed 
brother,  when  his  remains  will  be  followed  by  many  a  bleeding 
heart,  and  by  not  one  which  is  not  filled  with  sincere  and  deep  re- 
gret. In  your  own  feelings  you  will  know  and  experience  mine ; 
but  let  us  remember  that  this  is  a  common  lot ;  though  the  event 


448 


THE      LIFE      OF 


might  have  been  delayed,  yet  it  was  inevitable  ;  and,  sure  as  the 
stroke  is,  yet  that  there  is  not  a  day  nor  an  hour,  in  which  some  of 
our  fellow  creatures  do  not  labor  under  a  similar  affliction.  Re- 
collect how  many  scenes  you  have  wept  over  infinitely  more  dis- 
tressing to  the  sufferers  than  that  which  now  afflicts  us. 

Your  brother  died  surrounded  by  his  friends,  and  with  every 
circumstance  that  could  administer  consolation.  Lydia's  conduct 
is  just  such  as  you  might  expect  from  her  sensibility,  on  the  one 
hand,  and  her  good  sense,  discretion  and  piety,  on  the  other.  In 
the  first  moments  of  the  awful  change,  she  expressed  a  wish  to  see 
her  sister  Betsey,  but  she  is  now  fully  impressed  with  the  propriety 
of  her  not  coming  up,  until  the  season  will  admit  of  it.  She  will, 
I  believe,  come  to  live  with  us  for  some  time,  nor  will  you  doubt 
that  every  thing  will  be  done  to  assuage  her  grief  and  alleviate  her 
distress.  The  poor  little  innocent  is  perfectly  well,  and  by  engag- 
ing her  mother's  attention  will  divert  her  melancholy.  But  it  is 
from  time  alone  that  we  can  expect  complete  relief.  That  will 
convert  the  present  grief  into  tender  regret.  This  we  know  from 
experience,  and  let  this  idea  be  cherished  by  you,  as  a  means  to 
prevent  you  from  aggravating  the  misfortune.  Let  your  tender- 
ness for  me,  of  which  I  have  had  so  many  proofs,  have  its  influence 
on  this  occasion — think  of  my  solicitude  for  you  ! 

All  your  friends  here  unite  in  affectionate  remembrance  to  you 
both.  Present  the  same  to  your  good  aunt  and  uncle,  and  may  the 
Almighty  enable  you  to  bear  His  dispensations  with  becoming  re- 
signation, is  the  fervent  prayer  of  your  truly  affectionate 

Father  and  friend, 

P.  V.  s. 

TO  THE  SAME. 

Kinderhook,  9l/i  Feb.,  1797. 
My  dear  Children  : 

I  will  suppose  that  all  our  letters,  three  in  number,  have  safely 
reached  you,  and  I  will  presume  that  we  can  judge  of  the  state  of 
your  minds  at  the  time  you  will  receive  this  letter,  by  our  own,  at 
this  present  moment.  I  have  satisfaction  in  telling  you,  that  your 
sister  Lydia  behaves  in  a  manner  suited  to  her  excellent  judgment 
and  her  amiable  disposition,  and  shows  a  tranquillity,  which  I  trust 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  419 

you  also  will  experience.  Let  her  example  stimulate  your  imitation. 
In  the  midst  of  her  heartfelt  grief  for  the  dead,  she  displays  a  becom- 
ing attention  to  her  surviving  friends,  and  to  you  in  particular. 
There  is  a  kind  of  generosity  in  grief,  which  leads  us  to  dwell  upon 
the  object,  and  to  be  engrossed  by  it,  in  exclusion  of  all  others;  but 
this  is,  in  some  measure,  to  be  resisted.  \Voul(l  your  generous 
brother  not  have  dissuaded  from  this  indulj^ence  to  e:rief  ?  would 
he  not  have  urged  the  claims  of  the  survivors  so  dear  to  him  ? — he 
who,  with  so  much  studious  care,  concealed  his  complaints  from 
those  most  near  and  dear  to  him  !  The  ways  of  Providence  are 
mysterious,  but  we  ought  to  have  a  firm  reliance  on  its  wisdom 
and  goodness.  On  this  subject  you  are  not  altogether  uninformed, 
and  it  will  be  your  duty  to  bring  into  practice,  sentiments  which 
you  have  admired  in  theory.  Let  me  bring  the  follow^ing  to  your 
recollection,  as  leading  to  a  just  way  of  thinking,  and  a  right 
frame  of  mind,  on  this  subject : 

"  Such  to  us,  though  infinitely  high  and  awful,  is  Providence ;  so 
it  watches  over  us  ;  comforting  these  ;  providing  for  those ;  listen- 
ing to  all  y  assisting  every  one  :  and  if  sometimes  it  denies  the  fa- 
vors we  implore,  it  denies  but  to  invite  our  more  earnest  prayers ; 
or  seeming  to  deny  a  blessing,  grants  one  in  that  refusal."  I  doubt 
not  but  Betsey  will  also  think  of  her  favorite  hymn. 

I  am  under  great  apprehensions,  lest  the  tidings  from  us  may 
have  had  an  unhappy  effect  on  your  good  aunt,  in  whose  distress 
you  knovv  we  have  so  sincerely  sympathized ;  but  alas !  who  in 
this  world  is  without  his  share  of  calamity  ? 

I  am  with  the  tenderest  affection, 

Yours, 

P.  V.  S. 

In  May,  1811,  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  son,  John,  (his  oldest  child 
then  living  by  the  second  Mrs.  Van  Schaack,  and  who  was  then 
in  his  twentieth  year,)  while  reciting  to  his  father  one  evening, 
complained  of  being  unwell.  The  next  day  he  was  taken  down 
with  typhus  fever,  and  died  ten  days  afterwards.  He  was  an  ami- 
able and  promising  youth — had  just  finished  his  collegiate  course, 
and  was  to  have  taken  his  first  degree  at  Union  College  a  few 
w^eeks  afterwards. 

57 


450  THE     LIFE     OF 

Less  than  two  years  after  this,  another  and  still  more  severe 
stroke  of  aOliction  awaited  him.  In  January,  1813,  Mrs.  Van 
Schaack,  while  practising  the  Christian  virtue  of  charity,  for  which 
she  was  eminently  distinguished,  in  visiting  a  poor  family  in  the 
neighborhood,  exposed  herself  to  a  fatal  disease.  She  was  taken 
sick  on  Saturday  night  with  the  epidemic  then  prevailing  and  scourg- 
ing the  country,  and  lingered  until  Friday  following,  when  she 
expired,  in  the  forty-eighth  year  of  her  age. 

This  second  bereavement  of  a  similar  description,  and  one 
peculiarly  severe  to  him  at  his  advanced  age,  and  in  his  then  state 
of  almost  total  blindness,  was  submitted  to  by  him  with  resigna- 
tion and  perfect  submission  to  the  w^ill  of  Divine  Providence  ;  and 
great  as  was  the  loss  to  him,  not  a  murmur  escaped  his  lips.  He 
had  enjoyed  twenty-four  years  of  tranquil  felicity  in  her  society, 
and  death,  in  this  instance,  severed  a  tie  rendered  sacred  by  the 
utmost  harmony,  and  by  a  reciprocal  solicitude  and  affection.  On 
the  next  ensuing  anniversary  of  the  day  of  her  death,  Mr.  Van 
Schaack,  at  an  early  hour,  and  immediately  after  breakfast,  re- 
paired to  an  upper  and  secluded  room  in  his  house,  where  he 
remained  in  solitude  through  the  day,  without  coming  down  to 
dinner.  It  was  a  day  spent  in  solemn  meditation  upon  her  nu- 
merous virtues  :  and  what  must  not  have  been  the  contemplations 
of  that  vigorous  yet  sensitive  mind,  in  reviewing  the  numerous  and 
touching  scenes  of  a  long  and  eventful  life  ! 

Mr.  Van  Schaack  was  as  tender  of  the  sensibilities  of  others, 
as  he  was  tolerant  in  his  political  sentiments.  He  could  not  en- 
dure to  have  the  feelings,  or  even  the  prejudices  of  his  fellow- 
creatures  sported  with,  lliis  amiable  trait  in  his  character  was 
particularly  exhibited  towards  those  whom  Providence  had  placed 
under  him  as  domestics,  and  he  was  also  remarkably  kind  to  them. 
He  had  a  faithful  old  male  servant  to  whom  he  was  very  much 
attached,  and  whose  regard  for  him  was  equally  great.  This  old 
servant  fell  a  victim  to  the  epidemic  before  mentioned.  In  a 
letter  to  an  absent  son,  he  thus  feelingly  speaks  of  his  death  : 
"  What  I  wrote  to  you  respecting  poor  Colly  has  produced  anx- 
ious feelings  in  you,  I  am  sure.  They  have  been  but  too  fatally 
realized.  He  is  no  more.  You  will  shed  a  tear  over  the  remem- 
brance of  him,  as  he  would  have  done  over  you,  had  you  been 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  451 

called  away  before  him.  My  loss  is  not  inconsiderable,  but,  in 
point  of  pro})erty,  not  irreparable.  In  every  calamity  and  disap- 
pointment, if  we  dilifi;ently  seek  resources,  by  the  providence  of 
God  we  shall  fuul  them.  As  to  the  poor  old  man,  I  can  truly  say, 
— non  meminisse  pigebit. 

Mr.  Van  Schaack  was  frequently  cheered  in  his  retirement,  by  a 
visit  from  his  old  friend  Egbert  Benson,  whose  social  and  travelling 
inclinations  usually  brou<;ht  him  to  Kinderhook  several  times  a 
year,  even  after  they  had  both  reached  fourscore.  There  was  a 
room  in  his  house  known  as  "  Juds:e  Bensoii^s  roo7n.'"  In  the 
sprinjT  of  ISIS,  they  went  fiom  Kinderhook  to  Bedford,  in  the 
Judge's  one-horse  wagon,  (the  Judge  being  driver,)  to  visit  their 
mutual  and  bosom  friend  Mr.  Jay.  They  were  both,  at  this  time, 
upwards  of  seventy. 

TO  JOHN  JAY. 

Kinderhook,  2d  April,  1825. 
My  dear  Sir  : 

As  my  son  David  is  going  to  New-York  for  two  or  three  days, 
I  avail  myself  of  the  occasion  to  present  you  with  this  token  of  my 
friendly  remembrance,  and  permit  me  to  add  with,  emphasis  my 
grateful  remembrance,  and  at  the  same  time  to  express  my  sincere 
wishes  for  the  health  and  happiness  of  all  under  your  roof,  in  which 
my  children  cordially  unite.  I  have  sometimes  heard  of  you  through 
my  young  friend  F.  De  Peyster,  Jr.,  and  have  been  gratified  to 
learn,  that  you  enjoy  your  usual  state  of  health.  Mr.  De  Peyster 
has  also  informed  me  of  friendly  inquiries  about  me  by  your  sons, 
which  has  afforded  me  no  small  pleasure.  My  health  is  very  good, 
and  were  it  not  for  the  established  complaint  in  my  eyes,  I  should 
be  able  to  visit  my  friends  at  a  distance,  and  particularly  yourself. 
Nor  has  it  been  a  little  mortifying,  that  upon  full  consideration  I 
have  been  compelled  to  resist  your  friendly  invitation.  As  it  is,  I 
am  Ti  fixture  to  my  habitation,  and  from  habit  have  become  perfect- 
ly reconciled  to  it,  and  can  say  with  Horace  ;  "  Lceviusft  patientd, 
qidcquid  corrigere  est  nefas.'^  You  and  I,  my  friend,  have  lived 
in  an  eventful  period  and  a  long  one  too,  "  in  life  if  long  can  be." 

The  emancipation  of  our  Southern  neighbors  from  the  thraldom 
of  Spanish  slavery  and  superstitious  bigotry,  must  have  afforded 


452  THE     LIFE     OF 

you,  as  it  has  me,  sincere  pleasure.  I  must  only  hope,  that 
in  the  frame  of  their  government  they  will  imitate  ours,  and  that 
in  forming  their  constitutions  they  will  not  "  build  a  Chalcedon, 
wdth  a  Byzantium  before  their  eyes." 

Benson  spent  two  or  three  days  with  me  last  January,  in  his 
way  to  Albany,  since  which  I  have  not  heard  from  him  nor  of  him, 
except  a  publication  of  his  in  an  Albany  paper ;  I  do  not  therefore 
know  where  his  ubiquity  has  placed  him  at  present.  That  this 
course  of  life  may  promote  his  health  and  happiness,  is  my  earnest 
wish.  Permit  me  to  conclude  with  the  assurances  of  my  constant 
and  unabated  friendship. 

Yours  sincerely, 

P.  Van  Schaack. 

TO  PETER  VAN  SCHAACK. 

Bedford,  Westchester  County,  12th  ^pril,  1825. 
My  good  Friend  : 

On  the  9th  inst.,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  your  letter  of 
the  2d,  pnd  of  learning  from  it  that  your  health  was  then  very 
good.  Mine  continues  to  decline.  I  can  neither  read  nor  write 
much  at  a  time  without  fatigue.  Since  Christmas,  until  the  day 
before  yesterday,  (when  I  went  to  church,)  I  have  been  constantly 
confined  to  the  house.  I  nevertheless  seldom  suffer  from  severe 
pain  ;  and  in  various  respects  have  great  reason  to  be  thankful. 

Although  your  health  and  strength  remain  undiminished,  yet 
the  inconveniences  resulting  from  the  present  state  of  your  eyes 
are  greatly  to  be  regretted.  Had  I  the  same  complaint,  I  should 
think  it  advisable  to  consult  some  of  the  excellent  surgeons  at 
New-York,  and  be  guided  by  their  advice  as  to  the  expedience 
of  recurring  to  the  operation,  w^hich  is  frequently  and  successfully 
performed  in  such  cases.  Your  remark  from  Horace  on  the  efficacy 
of  patience  under  the  pressure  of  calamity,  is  certainly  just. 
Whenever  patience  comprehends  resignation,  it  becomes  an  excel- 
lent palliative ;  especially  to  those  who  believe  that  afflictions  are 
often  dispensed  for  merciful  purposes. 

Circumstanced  as  we  both  are,  there  seems  to  be  but  little 
probability  of  our  having  many  opportunities  of  renewing  those 
social  interview's  which  we  formerly  and  cordially  enjoyed.     Our 


PETER     VAN     S  C  II  A  A  C  K  .  4.03 

time  of  life  is  approaching  to  a  period  when  scenes  more  durahlc 
and  more  interesting,  than  those  of  temporal  enjoyments  or  suiferings, 
will  occupy  our  attention. 

I  have  not  seen  our  friend  Benson  since  September  kst.  lie 
was  then  very  well.  His  frequent  journeys  doubtless  conduce  to 
his  health,  and  the  pleasure  he  takes  in  them  easily  reconciles  him 
to  occasional  inconveniences.  I  should  have  been  glad  to  receive 
your  letter  from  the  hands  of  your  son  David.  Be  assured  that 
he,  or  any  of  your  children,  will  always  meet  with  a  cordial  wel- 
come from,  dear  sir, 

Your  affectionate  friend,  John  Jay. 

Mr.  Van  Schaack  was  requested  to  draw^  up  some  sentiments  for 
the  anniversary  meeting  in  May,  1826,  of  the  Alumni  of  Columbia 
College — his  alma  mater.  He  prepared  the  following,  which 
were  adopted  as  regular  toasts,  on  the  occasion  referred  to  : 

1.  Our  Alma  Mater. 

Dodrina  sed  vim  promovet  insitam, 
Reclique  cultus  pedora  robcrant. 

2.  The  Patrons  and  Promoters  of  Learning. 
Sui  memores  alios  fecere  inercndo. 

3.  Our  deceased  Class-mates. 

J^ec  meminisse  pigebit 

Sunt  ladirymcE  rerum,  et  menicm  mortalia  tangunt. 

4.  The  Under  Graduate. 

Quistudet  optatam  cursu  contingere  metam 
Multa  tulityfecitque  puer. 

5.  Our  sister  Colleges  in  the  United  States, 
Fades  non  omnibus  una, 

JVec  diversa  tamen,  qualem  deed  esse  sororum." 
At  this  raeetino-  of  the  Alumni,  the  followino;  toast  was  drank, 

which  deserves  to  be  mentioned  for  its  appropriateness  and  classic 

beauty. 

"  Peter  Van  Schaack.     Admired  for  his  knowledge  of  the  law, 

and  for  his  classical  attainments,  and  beloved  for  the  virtues  which 

adorn  our  nature.     Quisjure  peritior,  quis  virtute  prcestantior  ?"* 

*  It  was  placed  among  the  regular  toasts,  but  was  written  by  Col.  Troup, 
who,  as  chairman,  having  toasted  the  orator  of  the  day,  could  not  properly 
propose  a  second  volunteer. 


454  THE     LIFE     OF 

At  the  annual  commencement  in  this  year,  the  Faculty  of  Co- 
lumbia College  conferred  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Laws  upon  Peter 
Van  Schaack,  Samuel  Jones,  and  De  Witt  Clinton. 

TO  FREDERICK  DE  PEYSTER,  JUN. 

Kinder  hook,  1th  August,  1826. 
]\Iy  dear  Sir  : 

If  my  grandson  has  been  fortunate  enough  to  see  you  and  de- 
liver my  message,  you  ^vill  be  convinced  of  the  coincidence  of  your 
feelings  and  mine,  on  the  subject  of  the  long  interruption  of  our 
correspondence.  We  will  not  criminate  or  recriminate,  but  start 
de  novo. 

I  have  received  your  letter  of  the  2d  instant,  and  find  in  it 
that  attention  to  every  thing  that  concerns  me,  which  you  have 
shown  upon  all  occasions. 

I  am  not  insensible  to  the  honor  done  me  by  the  Faculty  of 
Columbia  College — my  venerated  Alma  Mater — nor  to  being 
toasted  by  Mr.  Verplank  after  my  two  old  esteemed  friends  Mr. 
Jay  and  INIr.  Benson.  I  have  said  that  I  was  not  insensible  to 
those  honors,  but  the  principal  source  of  my  gratification  is  the 
pleasure  which  I  know  my  friends  will  feel  on  this  occasion,  unex- 
pected, unlooked  for,  and  I  may  say  undesired  by  me. 

I  am  extremely  happy  to  hear  that  Mr.  Jay  is  in  his  usual 
state  of  health,  I  presume  gradually  declining,  like  his  two  old 
friends,  to  that  country  from  whose  bourne  no  traveller  returns.  I 
am  in  good  health,  but  do  not  want  that  memento  mori  which  Philip 
of  Macedon  imposed  upon  a  monitor  to  repeat  to  him.  I  have  the 
monitor  within. 

When  you  call  yourself  my  "  affectionate  pupil,"  you  touch  a 
very  tender  string  of  my  heart.  It  is  now  more  than  seven  years 
since  you  ceased  to  be  so  in  fact,  but  your  reminiscence,  at  this  dis- 
tant period,  does  honor  to  your  heart,  while  it  affords  pleasure  to 
mine.  Yours  most  sincerely, 

P.  V.  SCHAACK. 

The  last  fifteen  years  of  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  life,  were  spent  in 
great  retirement,  in  the  bosom  of  his  family,  at  his  seat  in  Kinder- 
hook.  With  the  exception  of  a  visit  to  New- York  in  1815,  and 
the  one  to  Bedford  before  alluded  to,  he  made  no  journey  to  any 


PETER      VAN      S  C  II  A  A  C  K  .  455 

great  distance,  and  lie  rarely  left  Lis  native  village,  during  the  last 
mentioned  period.  This  lon^  and  unobtrusive  retirement  led  many 
to  suppose  that  he  was  no  longer  living,  l^ut,  allhough  as  to  the 
active  and  noisy  scenes  of  lile  he  lived  thus  secluded  from  the  world, 
it  was  not  an  "  unprofitable  solitude."  His  mind  was  in  ajtive 
employ,  and  its  stores  of  philosophic  wisdom,  and  classic  and  pro- 
fessional learning,  were  called  into  ch^ily  and  almost  constant  exer- 
cise, in  imparting  instruction  to  his  own  children,  or  to  his  law  and 
literary  students.  And  the  "  round  table"  with  its  pile  of  Latin 
books,  (among  which  his  favorite  Virgil  was  always  one,)  was  at 
hand,  at  all  hours  of  the  day,  and  the  leaves  of  its  precious  bur- 
dens bore  ample  testimony  to  their  constant  use.  No  classical 
books  (and  there  were  many  and  a  great  variety  in  his  study)  were 
suffered  there  to  contract  mould  ;  nor  from  January  to  December, 
during  a  period  of  nearly  half  a  century,  could  dust  scarcely  ever 
find  an  opportunity  for  reposing  upon  the  oft-turned  pages  of  Cicero, 
Ovid,  Juvenal,  Horace  and  Virgil. 

His  valuable  letters  written  from  England  to  his  son,  are  but 
illustrations  of  his  ordinary  conversations  with  his  literary  students, 
chequered  as  most  of  them  were  with  the  richest  allusions  and  quo- 
tations. His  conversations  with  his  law  students,  abounded  with 
similar  quotations,  and  with  others  adapted  to  that  science,  and 
such  as  were  calculated  to  inspire  the  student  with  elevated  ideas 
cf  his  profession.  What  in  another  would  have  been  considered 
pedantry,  in  him  w^as  nothing  else  than  the  natural  flow  of  a  mind 
chastened  by  a  refined  taste,  and  deeply  imbued  with  the  beauties 
of  literature,  and  abundantly  stored  with  the  profound  maxims 
and  principles  of  that  noble  science,  which  he  had  made  his  pro- 
fession. 

Mr.  Van  Schaack  was  highly  complimented,  when  in  England, 
upon  the  correctness  and  elegance  with  which  he  spoke  the  En- 
glish language.  Indeed  the  remark  is  hazarded,  that  few  speak 
the  language  more  correctly  than  well  educated  American  gentle- 
men of  Dutch  descent.  His  precision  in  the  use  of  language,  and 
his  frequent  corrections  of  the  inaccuracies  of  others,  subjected 
him  to  the  imputation  of  hypercrlticism.  But  an  attentive  mind 
would  readily  discover  that  there  was  use  in  it,  however  trivial  or 
unimportant  it  might,  at  the  moment,  appear  to  have  been.     Bad 


456  THE     LIFE     OF 

habits  in  matters  of  consequence,  frequently  arise  from  early  care- 
lessness in  matters  of  less  moment.  A  great  share  of  litigation 
arises  from  the  careless  use  or  transposition  of  words ;  and  a  large 
body  of  the  decisions  of  our  courts  consists  in  giving  construction 
to  terras  and  expressions  loosely  used  or  carelessly  applied  in  stat- 
utes, or  written  instruments.  Repetition,  or  the  use  of  superflu- 
ous words,  was  very  grating  to  his  ear.  Should  the  question  be 
asked,  "When  are  you  going  to  Albany?"  it  would  offend  his 
nice  ear  to  receive  for  answer,  "  I  am  going  to  Albany  next  week," 
when  the  last  two  words  were  all  that  w^as  necessary  to  give  a 
complete  answer  to  the  question.  Such  an  answer  unnecessarily 
repeating  the  question,  he  seemed  to  consider  disrespectful.  He 
liked  plain  yes  and  no,  when  nothing  more  was  required  to  re- 
spond to  the  proposition  advanced. 

No  opportunity  was  left  unimproved  by  him  for  imparting  in- 
struction, and  he  was  accustomed  to  say  that  "  the  only  avarice  he 
could  bear  the  thought  of,  was  the  avarice  of  timey  His  daily  well 
ordered  avocations  attested  the  value  which  he  set  upon  that  price- 
less gem.  To  see  him  seated  in  his  study,  surrounded  by  his  pupils,  and 
imparting  to  them  from  the  rich  stores  of  his  knowledge,  one  was 
reminded  of  the  lines  of  his  favorite  Pope — 

"  Though  blind,  a  boldness  in  his  looks  appears  ; 
In  years  he  seem'd,  but  not  impaired  by  years." 

The  cultivation  of  mind,  in  the  humblest  sphere  around  him, 
was  not  neglected,  and  his  little  black  attendant  came  in,  in  turn, 
for  his  share  of  instruction.  If  Frank  was  too  young,  or  not  a 
proper  subject  for  learning  Latin,  (though  it  is  doubtful  whether 
his  color  would  have  excused  him  had  he  been  a  little  older,) 
yet  he  could  learn  to  spell  door  when  he  opened  it,  or  the  name 
of  any  other  object  which  w^as  called  into  use  at  the  moment. 

He  had  a  happy  faculty  of  turning  every  thing  to  good  account 
in  the  way  of  admonition  or  instruction.  Occasions,  situations  and 
occurrences  of  the  most  familiar  kind,  and  which  with  ordinary 
minds  would  pass  unheeded,  were  improved  by  him  to  a  useful 
purpose,  by  calling  up  some  apt  quotation,  or  valuable  sentiment; 
and  by  his  fondness  for  instruction,  they  were  made  to  promote 
the  important  object  of  advancing  the  young  student  in  virtue, 
knowledge,  or  classical  learning. 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  457 

He  retained  his  relish  ibr  the  Latin  language  until  his  dying 
day;  and  a  dish  of  Latin  before  breakfast  was  a  very  common  in- 
dulixence  lor  some  time  after  he  liad  reached  threescore  and  ten. 

JNlr.  Van  Schaack  was  extremely  partial  to  the  writers  of  the  Au- 
gustan age ; — of  these  Virgil  was  liis  favorite.  He  could  repeat  many 
of  the  Eclogues,  and  a  great  portion  of  the  /Eneid,  and  he  had  the 
minutest  parts  of  the  story  at  his  tongue's  end.  So  also  he  could 
recite  large  portions  of  the  odes  and  epistles  of  Horace,  and  of  the 
orations  of  Cicero,  in  the  original.  Of  the  Greek  his  knowledge 
was  limited. 

He  was  a  great  admirer  of  the  old  English  poets  and  prose  waiters, 
and  more  especially  of  Milton,  Shakspeare,  and  Pope,  (including 
his  translations,)  and  the  w^'iters  for  the  Spectator;  and  he  gener- 
ally called  for  some  of  these  works  when  he  desired  miscella- 
neous reading.  But  it  was  difficult  to  interest  him  in  most  of 
the  writers  of  modern  times.  Even  the  works  of  Scott  and 
Byron  could  not  enlist  his  feelings  ;  in  fact,  he  never  read  but  two 
novels  in  his  life,  and  those  were  Clarissa  Harlow  and  Sir  Charles 
Grandison.  He  had  an  indifferent  opinion  of  that  kind  of  reading. 
The  study  of  the  Scriptures  received  much  of  his  attention.  He  was 
particularly  fond  of  the  Psalms,  and  could  repeat  very  many  of  them. 
The  writinQ-s  and  character  of  St.  Paul  excited  his  admiration. 

From  none  of  his  classical  students  did  he  require  or  receive 
any  compensation  for  the  large  portion  of  time  and  care  bestowed 
in  their  instruction,  and  not  a  few  poor  young  men  could  testify  to  his 
solicitude  for  their  mental  improvement.  His  soul  seemed  to  be 
wrapped  up  in  the  intellectual  cultivation  of  the  rising  generation, 
and  he  found  his  highest  reward  in  the  attention  and  progress  of 
his  pupils.  He  was  emphatically  the  friend  of  youth,  and  their 
welfare  found  in  him  a  fixed  and  unalterable  devotion.  Could  a 
collection  now  be  made  of  those  lessons  of  wisdom  which  have 
fallen  from  his  lips,  while  imparting  instruction  to  his  numerous 
pupils,  during  a  long  and  industrious  life  of  upwards  of  fourscore 
years,  it  would  form  a  rich  legacy  to  the  rising  generation.  But, 
alas  for  the  waywardness,  the  volatility  and  the  inattention  of 
youth  !  the  greater  part  of  those  invaluable  instructions  are  now 
lost  to  mankind,  and  that  loss  is  a  subject  of  reproach  to  no  one 
more  than  to  the  writer  of  this  sketch. 

58 


458  THE     LIFE     OF 

Although  living  thus  retired,  he  was  not  unmindful  of  his  dis- 
tant friends,  or  of  his  immediate  neighbors; — no  suitable  occasion 
for  attending  to  the  former  was  lost,  and  he  was  unremitting  in 
those  little  civilities  and  kindnesses,  which  his  situation  enabled 
him  to  bestow  upon  the  latter.  For  the  punctilious  discharge  of 
those  civihties  he  was  eminently  characterized,  and  it  formed  a 
pleasing  trait  in  his  character ;  and  as  he  w^as  ever  mindful,  in  this 
respect,  of  his  duty  to  others,  so  also  the  reciprocation  of  these  little 
attentions  was  received  and  cherished,  in  the  gratitude  of  his  heart. 

On  the  approach  of  a  New  Year's  day,  it  was  habitual  with 
Mr.  Van  Schaack  to  recur  to  his  old  friends,  and  the  absent  mem- 
bers of  his  family,  with  the  compliments  of  the  season.  With  him 
this  w^as  not  an  occasion  for  unmeaning  ceremony,  but  for  the  expres- 
sion of  friendship  sincerely  entertained.  The  reader  will  perhaps 
anticipate  which  of  those  old  friends  he  would  be  least  hkely  to 
pass  by,  in  the  annual  interchange  of  a  "  Happy  New  Year." 

TO  JOHN  JAY. 

Kinderhook,  27th  December ,  1826. 
My  dear  Sir  : 

Let  me  break  in  upon  your  retirement  with  the  wish  of  a  hap- 
py new  year,  and  that  it  may  be  attended  with  every  blessing  which 
life,  transitory  as  it  is,  can  bestow  ;  and  in  this  wish  I  comprehend 
every  branch  of  your  family. 

The  return  of  this  season  habitually  brings  the  recollection  of 
days  long  since  past,  of  youthful  attachments  and  more  mature 
connections  dissolved,  as  well  as  of  the  few  which  remain.  You  have 
passed  fourscore,  and  I  am  but  a  few  months  from  it.  Benson  is 
between  us,  and  I  shall  soon  be  followed  by  Harrison,  Watts  and 
Rutgers.  These  I  beheve  are  all  that  survive  of  our  college  cotem- 
poraries.     J^os  turha  sumus  ! 

I  heard  last  May  that  apprehensions  were  entertained  by  your 
friends,  that  you  were  threatened  with  a  new  complaint.  Benson, 
however,  soon  after  informed  me,  that  these  apprehensions  were 
dissipated,  and  since  that  I  have  heard  that  you  are  in  your  usual 
state  of  health,  which  I  hope  may  long  continue.  I  enjoy  perfect 
bodily  health,  and  freedom  from  pain.  I  have,  however,  been  af- 
fected with  a  deterioration  of  my  hearing,  but  my  family  think 


PETER      VAN      SCHAACK.  459 

that  it  has,  within  a  few  weeks,  materially  mltif^ated.  Tn  this  sit- 
uation, mixed  of  comforts  and  of  privations,  I  will,  I  trust,  submis- 
sively" wait  the  <:^ieat  teacher  J)eath  and  God  adore." 

With  an  affectionate  remembrance  to  all  under  your  roof,  Mrs. 
Banyar,  Miss  Nancy,  and  your  son  William  and  his  family,  in 
which  my  children  unite, 

I  am,  ray  dear  sir, 

Your  sincere  and  obliofed  friend, 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 

TO  PETER  VAN  SCHAACK. 

Bedford,  23d  January,  1827. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  have  received  your  friendly  letter  of  the  27th  ult.  It  gives  me 
pleasure  to  reflect  that  our  mutual  esteem  and  regard  have,  from 
an  early  period,  been  constantly  productive  of  cordiality  and  grati- 
fication. 

A  kind  Providence  has  extended  our  lives  to  the  commence- 
ment of  another  year.  Very  few  of  our  early  associates  remain 
with  us.  Our  abode  here  is  merely  j>ro  hac  vice,  and  our  departure 
is  then  to  place  us  in  a  state  of  eternal  good  or  evil.  That  good  can 
only  be  obtained  by  means  of  our  merciful  Redeemer,  who  was 
pleased  to  declare,  "  without  me  ye  can  do  nothing." 

Although  I  have  long:  been  in  a  state  of  debility,  yet  it  was 
lately  so  increased  by  an  additional  complaint,  as  caused  me  to  de- 
lay preparing  a  few  lines  to  you  more  seasonably. 

That  you  and  your  family  may  always  be  blessed  with  benefi- 
cial prosperity,  be  assured,  is  the  wish  of  my  children,  and  also 

Of  your  affectionate  friend, 

John  Jay. 

The  foregoing  letter  to  Mr.  Van  Schaack,  is  the  last  letter  of 
friendship  written  by  Mr.  Jay,  which  his  biographer  has  given  to 
the  public,  in  the  interesting  work  which  commemorates  the  life 
and  character  of  that  illustrious  patriot.  In  connection  with  the 
one  to  which  it  is  an  answer,  it  forms  also  an  appropriate  con- 
clusion to  the  miscellaneous  correspondence  of  Peter  Van  Schaack. 
It  is  fit  and  proper,  that  the  picture  of  so  rare  an  instance  of  ele- 


460  THE      LIFE      OF 

vated  and  disinterested  friendship,  should  not  be  marred  in  its  keep- 
ing, and  that  its  subjects  having  been  "  lovely  and  pleasant  in  their 
lives,"  should  not  be  "  divided  in  death,"  or  even  in  the  works  by 
which  the  purity  of  their  characters  is  commemorated. 

Mr.  Jay  departed  this  life,  on  the  17th  day  of  May,  1829.  The 
following  epitaph  was  composed  by  Mr.  Van  Schaack  for  his  old 
friend  : 

MEMORIAE  SACRUM, 

JOHANNIS  JAY,  Armigeri  ; 
qui  obiit 
17  Mayi,  Anno  Domini, 
1829. 

Si  monumentum  queer  as — 
Tunsi  pedora,  hicjacet  respondent  Virtutis  et  Patriae  amantes. 

HEU   PIETAS  !    HEU    PRISCA    FIDES  ! 

And  here  it  becomes  us  to  take  leave  of  another  old  friend, 

whose  name  should  not  be  forgotten  in  this  connection. 

FROM  EGBERT  BENSON. 

Jamaica,  August,  2bth,  1829. 
Dear  Sir  : 

I  have  received  the  line  from  you.  The  visit  of  David  since, — 
and  for  the  attention  I  feel  myself  truly  obliged  to  him, — has  al- 
most saved  me  from  the  necessity  of  an  answer.  He  can  report  to 
you  all  about  me. 

You  have  received  A.  B.  and  C.  D.,  and  by  this  time  you  will 
have  received  A.  B.  in  conclusion.* 

I  received  a  very  cordial  letter  from  William  Jay  on  the  occa- 
sion of  the  death  of  his  father.  In  my  answer,  the  following  Scrip- 
tural passage  served  for  my  concio  funebris.  "  The  season  was 
come,  in  which  the  shock  of  corn  should  come  in." 

I  am  free  from  disease  and  pain ;  still  strength  and  sight  fail 
me  perceptibly.  A  gracious  Providence  has  made  the  faihng 
gradual.     Day  by  day  a  respite  ;  day  by  day  a  warning. 

Yours  sincerelv, 
Peter  Van  Schaack,  Esq.  E.  B. 

*  These  were  papers  Judge  B.  was  writing  for  the  N.  Y.  American.     He 
was  then  upwards  of  80. 


PETER      VAN     SCHAACK.  461 

Mr.  Van  Schaack  survived  his  friend  Mr.  Jay  three  years. 
But  the  residue  of  his  life  was  one  of  the  same  uniform  retirement, 
and  its  avocations  have  been  so  fully  detailed  in  the  preceding 
pages,  as  to  require  no  further  comment  at  the  author's  liands.*  In 
the  occupations  which  have  been  mentioned,  and  in  the  ample  re- 
sources of  his  mind,  he  found  constant  promotives  of  that  cheer- 
fulness, which,  although  he  continued  totally  blind,  rarely  deserted 
him. 

"  Butf  it  was  in  the  tenderness  and  fidelity  ot  his  children^  that  he 
found  the  most  certain  and  gratifying  indemnity  for  the  evils  he 
would  otherwise  have  suffered.  Not  to  speak  of  other  members  of 
the  family,  he  enjoyed  the  constant,  affectionate  attendance  of 
daughters,  whose  highest  wishes  were  centered  in  his  happiness. 
The  declining  years  of  Mr.  Van  Schaack  were  smoothed  and 
^  blessed,  and  his  life  perhaps  protracted  to  its  unusual  length,  by 
.  this  faithful  performance  of  the  duties  of  filial  piety.  Until  about 
six  w-eeks  previous  to  his  decease,  his  bodily  health  was  uncom- 
monly good  for  a  person  of  his  advanced  age,  and  his  mind  was 
equally  vigorous.  He  was  then  seized  with  a  paralytic  affection, 
fr6m  w'hich  he  never  recovered,  his  health  gradually  declining 
until  his  death.  His  mental  faculties,  however,  remained  compar- 
atively unimpaired  to  the  last,  and  he  displayed  a  great  degree  of 
patience,  and  an  entire  submission  to  the  will  of  his  Creator.  In  the 
purity  of  his  life,  and  in  his  calm  composure  and  resignation  in  the 
hour  of  death,  his  numerous  family  and  connections  have  an  abun- 
dant source  of  consolation  and  pleasing  reflection." 

He  departed  this  life  on  the  27th  day  of  September,  1832,  and 
his  body  w^as  interred  in  the  village  church-yard,  at  Kinderhook, 
there  to  remain  until  the  sea  and  the  earth  shall  give  up  their 
dead  ! 

In  his  character,  Peter  Van  Schaack  united  the  energy  and 
decision  of  his  father,  with  the  tenderness  and  refined  sensibility  of 
his  mother.     In  personal  appearance,  also,  he  bore  a  marked  re- 

*  The  present  work  might  have  been  greatly  enlarged  by  additional  se- 
lections from  Mr.  Van  Schaack's  later  correspondences,  as  well  as  by  extend- 
ing those  of  an  early  date,  but  it  was  inconsistent  with  the  author's  determi- 
nation to  confine  it  to  a  single  volome. 

t  Extract  from  Mr.  Butler's  biographical  sketch  before  referred  to. 


462  THE      LIFE      OF 

semblance  to  the  former,  rendered  more  imposing,  however,  by  the 
increased  respect  inspired  by  a  consciousness  of  "  the  mind  within," 
and  which  in  the  son  had  been  improved  by  the  advantages  of  a 
thorough  education,  by  a  highly  cultivated  taste,  and  by  the  polish 
and  refinements  acquired  by  foreign  travel  and  a  city  life,  as  well 
as  by  an  extensive  and  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  learned  and 
distinguished  men  of  his  day. 

"Nature  had  conferred  upon  him  a  form  and  countenance  which 
corresponded  in  strength  and  dignity,  to  the  measure  of  his  intel- 
lect. Even  after  death  his  features  retained  the  noble  impress  of 
his  superior  endowments,  and  might  almost  have  been  taken  for 
some  marbled  monument  of  ancient  genius,  to  which  they  bore  a 
peculiar  and  most  interesting  resemblance."*  His  manners  were 
those  of  a  gentleman  of  the  old  school,  modest,  dignified  and  ele- 
gant, and  such  as  to  constitute  the  perfect  gentleman. 

Having,  in  the  course  of  these  pages,  laid  before  the  reader 
the  private  and  confidential  correspondences  of  Mr.  Van  Schaack, 
fully  developing  the  various  traits  in  his  character,  together  with 
his  private  meditations  authenticating  his  sentiments  under  his  own 
hand,  a  summary  of  that  character  would  seem  to  be  supererogatory. 
His  idiosyncrasy  has  here  been  "  gradually  developed,"  and  the 
reader  has  been  furnished  with  ample  and  well-authenticated  facts 
and  materials  from  which  to  draw  his  own  inferences,  and  which 
facts  are  of  so  striking  and  consistent  a  nature,  as  scarcely  to  admit 
of  a  varying  picture  in  any  hands,  whether  the  limner  be  a  stran- 
ger or  friend.  They  exhibit  his  character  in  the  amiable  light  of  a 
man  endued  with  philanthropy,  integrity,  charity,  benevolence, 
fortitude,  sincerity  and  candor;  as  a  citizen,  anxious  to  render 
himself  useful,  without  regard  to  the  enticements  of  ambition  ;  and, 
as  a  Christian,  receiving  with  perfect  submission  to  the  divine 
will  the  severest  dispensations  of  Heaven,  while  his  heart  over- 
flowed with  gratitude  for  the  humblest  mercies  imparted  from  the 
same  adorable  source. 

His  precepts  as  a  philosopher,  were  at  once  sound  and  practical ; 
and  as  a  jurist,  he  was  learned,  logical,  discriminating  and  pro- 
found. 

As  a  scholar,  we  have  the  most  pleasing  evidence  of  his  refined 

*  Mr.  Butler. 


PETER     VAN     SCHAACK.  463 

taste  and  cultivated  mind,  in  his  letters  written  from  England  to  Lis 
son.  While  they  abound  in  elevated  sentiments,  and  are  rated  by  a 
high  standard  of  morality  ;  \vhile  they  exhibit  the  sterling  qualities 
of  frankness,  good  sense,  a  pure  taste  and  gentlemanly  breeding  ; 
and  while  they  are  marked  as  well  for  the  mind  which  they  exhibit 
as  for  the  instruction  which  they  convey  ; — these  letters  are  also 
distinguished  for  the  purity,  dignity  and  perspicuity  of  their  style, 
for  the  gracefulness  and  elegance  of  their  diction,  and  for  classical 
scholarship,  being  replete  with  the  rarest  allusions  culled  from 
Roman  and  English  authors,  and  many  of  which  are  as  much  to  be 
admired  for  the  aptitude  of  their  application,  as  for  their  intrinsic 
beauty.  Although  written  more  than  half  a  century  since,  they 
have  lost  none  of  their  interest  or  originality  ; — and  they  constitute 
a  mirror,  which  beautifully  reflects  the  polished  and  disciplined  mind 
of  the  author,  and  through  them,  "  though  dead,  he  yet  speaks.'^ 

If  this  be  the  language  of  eulogy  rather  than  fact,  the  means 
of  correction  are  placed  within  the  reader's  reach. 

To  say  that  Peter  Van  Schaack  had  no  faults,  would  be  to 
place  him  w^ithout  the  pale  of  human  infirmity :  but  if  he  had  any 
vices  their  existence  is  unknown  to  the  author. 

His  resignation  was  abundantly  exhibited  by  his  "  unabated 
cheerfulness,"  for  a  long  term  of  years,  under  the  severest  person- 
al privations,  which  had  been  preceded  by  the  overthrow  and  dis- 
appointment of  his  leading  views  and  prospects  in  life;  and  to  this 
Christian  grace,  he  added  the  wisdom  and  fortitude  of  philosophy, 
and  exemplified  the  motto  he  had  chosen — superanda  fortuna 
ferendo. 

Brought  up  in  the  school  of  affliction,  he  knew  how  to  appre- 
ciate the  sufferings  of  others ;  and  that  admirable  sentiment  of 
Terrence — homo  sum  nil  humani  a  me  alienum  pido — was  one  of  his 
favorite  quotations,  and  found  a  ready  response  in  his  bosom. 

Although  not  called  to  an  official  station  in  the  republic,  he 
"  did  the  state  some  service,"  in  the  more  retired  and  unostentatious, 
but  not  less  responsible,  capacity  of  an  instructer  of  her  youth,  and  of 
fitting  them  for  the  future  discharge  of  useful  and  responsible  sta- 
tions in  the  republic.  If  the  remark  of  a  modern  philosopher  be 
correct,  that  "  to  educate  a  child  perfectly  requires  profounder 
thought,  greater  wisdom  than  to  govern  a  state,"  why  is  not  he 


464  THE     LIFE     OF 

entitled  to  his  country's  gratitude,  who  has  successfully  devoted  his 
talents,  and  so  great  a  portion  of  his  life,  to  so  difficult  a  task  ? 
His  qualifications  in  this  respect  were  unsurpassed,  if  not  unrivalled  ; 
and  they  entitle  him  to  the  rank  and  name  of  the  modern  Quin- 
tilian. 

Banished  under  circumstances  of  peculiar  hardships,  and  for  no 
crime, — for  it  was  his  only  offence  that  in  the  conscientious  exer- 
cise of  the  right  of  opinion,  he  did  not  think  his  allegiance  to  the 
parent  state  was  dissolved — yet,  (as  was  said  of  Thucydides  in 
reference  to  his  ostracism,)  "  he  was  so  nobly  complexioned,"  that 
on  his  return  to  his  native  state,  "  no  murmur  or  complaint  escaped 
him  upon  account  of  his  severe,  undeserved  treatment  from  his 
country ;"  and  he  was  ready  to  exert  his  best  energies  in  her  ser- 
vice, and  the  intellectual  acquisitions  of  that  leisure  which  his  exile 
had  created,  were  freely  poured  into  the  lap  of  her,  who  had  pre- 
scribed to  him  "  the  hitter  bread  of  banishjnent.^' 

However  exposed  to  a  contrary  construction,  in  all  his  politi- 
cal conduct,  Peter  Van  Schaack  was  governed  by  a  love  of  his 
country,  and  by  a  sincere  desire  to  promote  its  prosperity  and  wel- 
fare. He  was  opposed  to  taking  up  arms  at  the  commencement  of 
the  Revolution,  from  a  sincere  conviction  that  a  connection  with 
Britain  was  essential  to  the  prosperity  of  the  colonies,  and  that  a 
civil  war  would  only  involve  them  in  anarchy  and  ruin.  Although 
he  condemned  the  measures  of  ministers,  yet  his  judgment  and  his 
charity  led  him  to  the  conclusion  that  "  they  did  not  manifest  a 
system  of  slavery,  but  might  fairly  be  imputed  to  human  frailty  and 
the  difficulty  of  the  subject."  But  when,  upon  being  transferred 
to  London,  he  witnessed  the  corruption  of  the  government,  and  be- 
came satisfied  of  the  evil  designs  of  the  British  cabinet,  he  hesitated 
not  to  make  known  his  change  of  sentiment,  though  exposed  to 
the  charge  of  political  apostasy ;  and  he  panted  for  peace,  desiring 
that  an  end  might  be  put  to  the  horrors  of  civil  war,  by  the 
unconditional  acknowledgment  of  his  country's  independence. 
When  peace  was  proclaimed,  and  independence  acknowledoed,  he 
rejoiced  in  his  heart ;  and,  on  the  establishment  of  the  New  Govern- 
ment, his  bosOm  swelled  with  the  patriotic  sentiment — esto  per- 

PETUA  ! 

Anxious  to  promote  the  prosperity  of  the  rising  States,  he  im- 


P  E  T  i:  R      VAN     S  C  H  A  A  C  K'  .  4C5 

proved  the  advantages  alTordi-d  by  his  situution  in  a  foreign  l;in(l,  to 
encourage  emigration  ;  and  he  was  ever  ready  to  vindicate  the  abi- 
lities of  his  countrymen  against  the  overbearing  disparagement  of 
foreign  insolence.  In  view  of  the  good  which  his  country  was 
likely  to  derive  from  the  successful  issue  of  the  Revolution,  we  find 
him  "  rejoicing  in  restraints"  which  he  had  experienced  in  his  own 
person,  "  and  which  he  had  once  deemed  a  grievance,"  and  we  see 
his  solicitude,  "  without  any  retrospect  to  the  past,"  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  new  llepubhcs  on  a  firm  and  durable  basis,  "  by 
laying  their  corner-stones  in  justice,  equity,  and  a  spirit  of  concilia- 
tion :" — and  on  returning  to  his  native  country,  and  resuming  his 
citizenship,  we  find  him  devoting  his  talents  and  energies  to  her  ser- 
vice, in  the  education  of  her  youth, — giving  to  the  new  order  of 
things  a  cordial  and  liberal  support,  and  becoming  a  worthy,  use- 
ful, and  inoffensive  citizen. 


59 


A  1^  1^  E  x\  D  I  X  . 

A. 

Mr.  Burke's  letter,  respecting  the  Hearing  at  the  Cockpit  upon  the 
petition  for  the  removal  of  Governor  Hutchinson. 

On  Saturday  last  the  Lords  of  the  Council  took  into  consideration  the 
petition  of  the  colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  for  the  removal  of  Iheir 
Governor  and  Deputy  Governor.  The  counsel  for  the  petition  were  Mr. 
D.  and  Mr.  Lee  ;  for  the  Governor,  Mr,  Weddeburn.* 

The  counsel  for  the  province  contended  that  no  cause  was  instituted ; 
that  they  did  not  think  advocates  necessary;  nor  were  they  demanded 
on  iXx^part  of  the  colony.  That  the  petition  of  the  colony  was  not  in  the 
nature  of  accusation,  but  of  advice  and  request.  That  it  was  an  address 
to  the  King's  wisdom,  not  an  application  for  strict  criminal  justice.  That 
when  referred  to  the  Council,  it  was  a  matter  for  political  prudence,  not 
for  judicial  determination.  Therefore,  as  such,  the  matter  rested  wholly 
in  their  Lordships'  opinion  of  the  propriety  or  impropriety  of  continuing 
persons  in  authority,  who  are  represented  by  legal  bodies,  competent  to 
such  representation,  as  having  (whether  on  sufficient  or  insufficient 
grounds)  entirely  forfeited  the  confidence  of  the  assemblies  with  whom 
they  were  to  act,  and  of  that  people  whom  they  were  to  govern.  That 
the  resolutions  on  which  that  representation  is  founded  lay  before  their 
Lordships,  together  with  the  letters  from  whence  those  resolutions  arose. 
That  these  were  the  materials,  and  the  only  materials  on  which  the  pru- 
dence of  the  Council  was  to  operate;  they  were  fully  sufficient  as 
grounds  for  that  prudential  consideration,  however  inadequate  they 
might  prove  for  the  support  of  a  criminal  charge;  a  charge  they  were 
by  no  means  authorized  to  make,  nor  furnished  with  legal  evidence  to 
support. 

If  their  Lordships  should  think  that  these  actionsf  appeared  to  the 
colony  representative  to  be  faulty,  ought  in  other  places  to  appear  mer- 
itorious, the  petition  has  not  desired  that  the  parties  should  be  punished 
as  criminals  for  these  actions  of  supposed  merit.     It  does  not  even  desire 

*  Afterwards  Lord  Loughborough, 

t  A  sentence  or  part  of  a  sentence  has  here  evidently  been  omitted  in 
copying. 


468  APPENDIX. 

that  they  may  not  be  rewarded.  It  only  humbly  requests  that  these  gen- 
tlemen might  be  removed  to  places  where  such  merits  are  better  under- 
stood, and  where  such  rewards  might  be  more  approved. 

The  ground  was  taken  with  skill.  It  was  attacked,  too,  wnlhno  small 
ability.  Mr.  Weddeburn  stated  the  determination  on  this  petition,  as 
what  must  decide  whether  the  King  should  ever  be  faithfully  or  reso- 
lutely served  in  any  part  of  his  dominions.  He  considered  the  petition 
as  a  criminal  accusation,  and  expatiated  largely  on  the  insufficiency  of 
the  matter  charged,  as  well  as  the  invalidity  of  the  evidence.  He  exten- 
uated the  supposed  offence  in  the  contents  of  the  letters.  He  asserted 
that  they  were  private  letters,  written  to  a  private  person,  and  (in  the 
usual  freedom  and  confidence  of  such  intercourse)  starting  sentiments, 
and  running  into  discussions  wholly  remote  from  any  view  to  practice,  as 
a  mere  exercise  of  fancy,  like  the  politics  of  Utopia  or  Oceana. 

He  dwelt  on  the  merits  of  the  Governor,  in  relation  to  his  province 
and  to  government,  and  the  confidence  which  it  was  admitted  he 
had  long  possessed,  which  from  his  constant  affection  to  his  country- 
men he  still  merited,  and  which  he  had  by  no  means  generally  forfeited. 
That  this  confidence,  so  justly  acquired,  was  affected,  partially  and  for  a 
time,  by  the  management  of  a  faction  that  had  got  into  momentary 
power.  He  expatiated  on  the  disorders  which  had  prevailed  in  town 
meetings  ;  and  on  the  temperate  and  manly  conduct  of  the  Governor,  in 
the  midst  of  such  trials.  He  ended  by  falling  severely  upon  the  means 
of  obtaining  and  communicating  these  obnoxious  papers,  and  of  the  evil 
effects  that  such  proceedings  (which  he  contended  could  not  possibly  be 
fair  ones)  had  upon  the  public  peace,  and  the  fatal  ones  they  were  very 
near  producing  to  the  quiet,  fame  and  hves  of  individuals. 

The  Council  was  the  fullest  I  have  ever  known.  It  did  not  seem  ab- 
solutely necessary,  from  the  nature  of  the  case,  that  thers^  should  be  any 
public  trial  whatsoever.  But  it  was  obviously  intended  to  give  all  pos- 
sible weight  and  solemnity  to  the  decision.     The  petition  was  rejected.* 


B. 

Mr.  Cruger's  speech  on  Mr.  Fox's  motion,  for  ''an  inquiry  into  the 
causes  of  the  ill  success  of  his  Majesty's  arms  in  North  America." 

Mr.  Speaker: 

The  honorable  gentleman  who  opened  this  debate,  has  spoken  so 
fully  and  eloquently  to  every  part  of  the  question,  that  any  thing  farther 
in  support  of  this  motion  may  appear  unnecessary.  But,  sir,  when  a 
subject  of  so  much  importance  is  hefore  the  House,  it  behooves  every  man 

*  See  a  full  account  of  this  subject  in  Sparks'  Life  and  Writings  of  Frank- 
lin.    Vol.  I.  pp.  350— 37U  i   IV.  40.3—455. 


APPENDIX.  4G9 

to  lay  asitic  llio  reserve  of  diindcnce,  and  express  his  scnlinients  with 
freedom  and  candor. 

If  there  is  any  point  in  which  the  different  interests  of  this  House 
sliould  unite,  it  must  be  in  a  conviction  of  the  necessity  and  expediency 
of  inquiring  into  the  causes  of  the  present  alarming  state  of  pubhc  aflairs. 
By  (Uscovering  what  has  proved  ruinous  in  the  past,  we  may  learn  at 
least  to  avoid  the  same  pernicious  steps  for  the  future.  If  their  mea- 
sures had  been  conducted  with  justice  and  prudence,  'tis  a  duty  which 
administration  owe  to  their  characters,  to  disarm,  by  a  free  examination, 
that  censure  on  tlieir  conduct  which  may  possil)]y  arise  from  ignorance. 
But  if  they  love  darkness  rather  than  light,  '*  because  their  deeds  are 
evil,-'  it  becomes  the  guardians  of  the  nation  to  draor  their  miscarriafres 
into  open  day,  and  expose  them,  with  all  their  deformities,  to  public  in- 
vestigation. 

If,  Mr.  Speaker,  such  an  inquiry  was  ever  necessary,  the  present 
time  demands  it.  If  we  look  to  the  past,  one  uniform  train  of  disappoint- 
ments and  misfortunes  crowd  the  view;  if  to  the  future,  a  gloomy  pros- 
pect of  increasing  miseries,  from  a  continuance  of  the  same  left-handed 
policy  and  ill-projected  measures. 

We  are  involved,  sir,  in  a  war,  in  which  success  itself  would  be  ru- 
inous. The  colonies,  as  if  animated  with  one  soul,  are  determined  to 
perish  or  be  free.  We  are  told  they  must  be  subdued.  We  shall  soon 
be  called  upon  to  make  new  exertions  of  force.  Every  thing  wears  the 
face  of  hostile  preparations  ;  and,  as  if  disappointment  could  create  con- 
fidence, we  are  urged  to  pursue  the  same  fatal  measures  by  arguments 
drawn  from  their  miscarriage.  "  Notliing  ('lis  now  said)  will  satisfy 
America  but  independence  ;  that  the  people  of  that  country  have  almost 
unanimously  taken  up  arms  ;  they  act  not  only  on  the  defensive,  but 
have  endeavored  to  deprive  ycu  of  all  Canada;  an  inquiry  (they  say) 
would  produce  a  fatal  procrastination  ;  the  urgency  and  necessity  of 
the  case  demand  and  justify  immediate  vigor  and  execution.  These 
must  be  pursued  or  the  government  of  the  colonies  surrendered  to  an 
ambiguous  Congress." 

Such,  sir,  are  the  reasons  advanced  to  preclude  inquiry,  and  to  pro- 
cure a  hasty  acquiescence  in  schemes  of  policy,  on  which  the  fate  of  the 
empire  so  materially  depends.  By  such  arguments  as  these  our  jeal- 
ousy is  excited  and  our  resentment  inflamed  against  a  people,  who,  after 
the  most  earnest  endeavors  to  preserve  their  liberties  from  invasion  by 
petition  and  remonstrance  ;  after  having  repeatedly  submitted  their  com- 
plaints (without  etfect)  to  the  justice  of  Parliament,  and  laid  them  hum- 
bly at  the  foot  of  the  throne;  after  beholding  the  most  formidable  pre- 
paiations  to  divest  them  of  their  rights  by  the  sword  ;  after  finding  hostil- 
ities already  commenced  and  fresh  violences  threatened,  have  taken  up 
arms  in  their  own  defence,  and  endeavored  to  repel  destructive  force  by 
force. 


470  APPENDIX. 

The  complexion  and  character,  sir,  of  their  present  opposition 
(whether  unjust  or  honorable)  rests  not  on  their  present  measures,  but 
arises  from,  and  must  be  weighed  by,  the  causes  which  have  made  such 
a  conduct  and  such  measures  necessary.  A  free  and  impartial  inquiry, 
therefore,  into  the  leading  and  primary  causes,  is  indispensably  necessary 
to  a  just  decision  of  the  case.  If  their  claims  of  exemption  from  Parlia- 
mentary taxation  are  founded  in  equity  and  the  principles  of  the  consti- 
tution ;  if  they  have  been  driven  by  a  wanton,  cruel,  and  impolitic  attack 
on  their  privileges,  to  their  present  desperate  defence ;  then,  sir,  the 
whole  guilt  and  censure  is  chargeable  on  those,  and  those  alone, 
whose  ambition  and  ill-directed  measures  have  forced  them  to  those  ex- 
tremities. Thus,  also,  if  a  form  of  government  is  introduced  into  Canada, 
(breathing  little  of  the  spirit  of  English  liberty,)  and  intending  to  link 
the  Canadians  to  the  chain  of  ministerial  influence  ;  if  they  scrupled  not 
to  make  a  religion,  which  has  so  often  deluged  Europe  with  blood,  an 
engine  of  their  despotism  to  crush  the  Protestant  colonies  ;  if  every  arti- 
fice w^asused  to  seduce  and  employ  a  servile,  bigoted  people,  to  subvert 
the  liberties  of  America,  can  we  wonder,  sir,  can  we  complain  if  the  col- 
onists wisely  diverted  the  storm,  and  secured  a  country  to  their  own  alli- 
ance, the  strength  and  arms  of  which  were  avowedly  to  be  directed  to 
their  destruction  ? 

When  what  was  dearer  to  them  than  their  lives — their  liberties  were 
at  stake ;  when,  Mr.  Speaker,  their  opposition  to  government  reached  no 
higher  than  petition  and  resolves,  then  they  were  stigmatized  w4lh  want 
of  courage.  Every  method  was  taken  to  irritate  them.  Insults  on  their 
character  as  a  people  were  added  to  encroachments  on  their  rights  as 
citizens.  The  pencil  of  confident  oppression  described  them  as  a  herd  of 
pusillanimous  wretches,  whom  the  appearance  of  martial  array  would 
terrify  into  submission.  How  unjust,  how  impolitic  to  reduce  men  to 
the  miserable  alternative  of  being  branded  with  the  epithet  of  cowards, 
or  of  taking  up  arms  to  vindicate  their  injured  honor  and  liberties;  first 
to  compel  them  to  resistance,  and  then  derive  arguments  of  their  guilt 
from  their  vigor,  courage,  and  success.  How  contemptible  the  cause 
which  pleads  the  misfortunes  it  has  occasioned  as  reasons  for  its  support ! 

The  arguments  of  administration,  stripped  of  their  false  colorings,  with 
all  humility,  I  conceive  to  be  these  :  "  We  have  plunged  Great  Britain 
into  a  most  expensive  and  ruinous  contest  with  her  colonies;  we  have 
opened  the  door  for  endless  animosities,  by  reviving  disputed  questions 
and  claims  which  shake  the  foundation  of  the  empire.  The  measures  we 
have  pursued  have  increased  the  storm  and  multiplied  the  common  mis- 
fortunes. We  have  joined  all  America  in  a  firm  league  against  you. 
Your  trade  has  been  impaired  ;  your  ships  insulted  and  taken.  We  have 
lost  for  you  every  place  of  strength  or  importance  in  the  Colonies;  and 
have  left  you  an  army  broken  by  sickness,  fatigue,  and  want,  and  now 
perishing  under  all  the  mortifications,  ignominy,  and  miseries  of  an  in- 


APPENDIX.  471 

glorious  imprisonment."  These,  say  they,  "  are  our  pleas  for  support ; 
these  are  therecommendationsof  our  councils.  We  lay  before  you  the  mis- 
carriages and  evils  whicii  our  pastrneas  ires  have  produced,  to  persuade 
you  to  place  new  confidence  in  our  wisdom,  and  to  give  more  liberal  aid 
to  our  judicious  schemes  for  the  future." 

These,  however,  sir,  are  not  the  only  blushing  honors  which  deck  the 
temples  of  administration.  Tlicy  have  lately  displayed  the  happy  art  of 
drawing  arguments  in  their  favor,  from  the  misfortunes  of  their  friends, 
as  well  as  from  the  success  of  their  enemies,  and  prove  that  they  are  as 
incapable  of  gratitude  as  of  justice.  When  gentlemen  in  this  House  (in- 
fluenced by  motives  of  humanity)  recommended  an  exception  of  the 
friends  of  government  in  the  Colonies  from  the  rigors  of  the  late  prohib- 
itory bill,  administration  suddenly  changed  its  voice  ;  and  they  who  just 
before  had  boasted  that  a  majority  of  tlie  Americans  were  friendly  to 
their  cause,  and  only  waited  an  opportunity  to  declare  it  with  safety,  now 
pronounced,  that  no  distinction  could  be  made,  for  that  they  had  preserved 
at  best  "  a  shameful  neutrality,"  and  deserved  to  be  subject  to  the  com- 
mon calamity  of  their  country.  This,  sir,  was  the  liberal  reward  bestowed 
on  men  who  espoused  their  cause  from  principle,  and  maintained  it 
undaunted  and  unsupported,  through  obloquy,  and  the  most  imminent 
danger  to  their  fortunes,  families  and  lives. 

I  w^ill  not  at  present  trespass  on  the  patience  of  the  House  by  entering 
into  particulars  ;  but  I  cannot  forbear  saying,  the  friends  of  peace  and 
good  order  in  the  province  of  New-York,  did  not  deserve  to  be  reproached 
with  "  a  shameful  neutrality  ;"  they  stood  forth  and  opposed,  as  long  as 
they  were  able,  the  increasing  current  of  tumult  and  disorder,  and  ex- 
posed themselves,  by  their  endeavors  to  preserve  their  colonial  constitu- 
tion, to  the  resentment  and  vengeance  of  their  incensed  neighbors.  In 
a  dutiful  manner  they  submitted  their  grievances  to  the  clemency  of  this 
House,  and  the  justice  of  their  sovereign,  I  need  not  insist  on  the  con- 
sequence. 

1  shall  not  dwell  on  the  contempt  with  which  their  zealous  advances 
to  a  reconciliation  were  rejected.  But  this  I  must  desire  all  those  who 
declaim  on  their  ignominious  neutrality  to  remember,  that  administration 
not  only  neglected  to  aid  them  with  a  force  sufficient  to  maintain  their 
opposition  against  the  zealots  in  their  own  province,  and  the  united  pow- 
ers of  the  adjacent  colonies,  but  withdrew  to  Boston  the  few  troops  under 
the  command  of  Gen.  Haldiman,  which  might  have  assisted  in  preserving 
order,  and  the  freedom  and  impartiality  of  public  proceedings.  By  such 
means  the  colony  was  laid  open  to  incursions.  Many  were  obliged  to 
secure  their  persons  from  danger,  by  forsaking  their  friends  and  country, 
and  leaving  their  property  at  the  discretion  of  their  enemies,  whilst  a 
greater  number  waited  with  silent  patience,  under  every  alTliction,  for  the 
vigorous  protection  of  Great  Britain. 

Their  zealous  and  firm  adherence  to  their  principles,  crown   them 


472  APPENDIX. 

with  honor.  That  they  have  not  been  successful ;  that  they  were  borne 
down  with  the  superior  force  of  their  opponents ;  that  they  are  left  to 
share  in  the  common  distress  and  common  punishments  of  their  unfortunate 
countrymen,  beams  no  lustre,  however,  on  the  characters  of  those  by 
whom  they  were  neglected,  betrayed,  and  sacrificed. 

By  this  impolicy  (to  call  it  by  no  harsher  name)  the  command  and 
management  of  the  key  and  mainspring  of  America,  has  been  lost  to  this 
country  ;  a  speedy  and  efiectual  security  of  which,  might  have  saved  us 
from  the  present  gloomy  prospect  of  intestine  carnage  and  accumulating 
misery.  Surely,  sir,  the  representative  body  ol'  the  nation  are  bound  iu 
duty  to  their  constituents,  to  examine  the  reasons  of  such  neglect  and 
misconduct;  and  they  in  particular  who  are  the  asserters  of  parliamentary 
supremacy,  are  concerned  to  inquire  why  so  effectual  a  method  of  weak- 
ening the  opposition  in  America,  and  supporting  their  own  adherents,  has 
been  totally  omitted. 

But,  sir,  there  is  no  necessity  of  dwelling  on  this  circumstance,  to 
prove  the  obligations  this  country  is  under  to  ministers.  Disappoint- 
ment and  disgrace  have  marked  all  their  measures;  and,  as  if  miracles 
had  been  wrought  to  strike  conviction  on  this  House,  they  have  not  once 
even  blundered  into  success.  It  may,  therefore,  reasonably  be  hoped, 
that  before  we  blindly  follow  any  farther,  we  may  not  only  contemplate 
our  present  situation,  and  the  ground  we  have  already  passed,  but  pay 
particular  attention  to  that  which  lies  before  us. 

Admitting  (for  the  present)  however,  sir,  that  a  force  sufficient  to 
subdue  them  can  be  sent  out;  admitting  that  this  country  will  patiently 
bear  the  enormous  weight  of  accumulated  taxes,  which  so  distant  and 
unequal  a  war  will  require  ;  admitting  that  foreign  powers  (the  natural 
enemies  of  Britain)  will  with  composure  and  self-denial  neglect  so  fav- 
orable an  opportunity  of  distressing  their  rivals ;  admitting  that  your 
fleets,  unopposed,  level  with  the  ground  those  cities  which  rose  by  your 
protection,  were  the  pillars  of  your  commerce,  and  your  nation's  boast ; 
admitting  that  foreign  mercenaries  spread  desolation,  that  thousands  I'all 
before  them,  and  that  humbled  under  the  combined  woes  of  poverty, 
anarchy,  want,  and  defeat,  the  exhausted  colonies  fall  suppliant  at  the 
feet  of  your  conquerors ;  admitting  all  this  will  be  the  case,  Avhich  can- 
not well  be  expected  from  the  past,  here  necessarily  follows  a  most  mo- 
mentous question:  What  are  the  solid  advantages  which  Great  Britain 
is  to  receive  in  exchange  for  the  blessings  of  peace  and  a  lucrative  com- 
merce ; — for  the  affections,  for  the  prosperity,  for  the  lives  of  so  many 
of  its  useful  subjects  sacrificed? 

Will  the  bare  acknowledgment  of  a  right  in  Parliament  to  tax  them 
compensate  lor  the  millions  expended,  the  danger  incurred,  the  miseries 
entailed,  the  destruction  of  human  happiness  and  life  that  must  ensue 
from  a  war  with  our  colonies,  united  as  they  are  in  one  common  cause, 
and  fired  to  desperate  enthusiasm  by  apprehensions  of  impending  slave- 


APPENDIX.  473 

ry  ?  Or  can  \vc  be  so  absurd  as  to  imagine  concessions  extorted  in  a 
time  of  danger  and  urgent  misery,  will  Ibrm  a  bond  of  lasting  union? 
Impoverished  and  undone  by  their  exertions  and  the  calamities  of  war, 
instead  of  being  able  to  repay  the  expenses  of  this  country,  or  supply  a 
revenue,  they  will  stand  in  need  of  your  earliest  assistance  to  revive  de- 
pressed and  almost  extinguished  conmierce,  as  well  as  to  renew  and 
uphold  their  necessary  civil  establishments. 

I  am  well  aware,  sir,  that  it  is  said  we  must  maintain  the  dignity  of 
Parliament.  Let  me  ask,  what  dignity  is  that  which  will  not  descend 
to  make  millions  happy,  which  will  sacrifice  the  treasures  and  best  blood 
of  the  nation  to  extort  submissions — fruitless  submissions,  that  will  be  dis- 
avowed and  disregarded  the  moment  the  procuring  oppressive  force  is 
removed  ?  What  dignity  is  that  which,  to  enforce  a  disputed  mode  of 
obtaining  a  revenue,  will  destroy  commerce,  spread  poverty  and  desola- 
tion, and  dry  up  every  channel,  every  source  from  which  revenue  or  any 
real  substantial  benefit  can  be  expected? 

Is  it  not  high  time  then,  Mr.  Speaker,  to  examine  the  full  extent  of 
our  danger,  to  pause  and  mark  the  paths  which  have  deceived  us,  and 
the  wretched,  bewildered  guides  who  have  led  us  into  our  present  diffi- 
culties? Let  us  find  the  destroying  angel,  and  stop  his  course,  while  we 
have  yet  any  thing  valuable  to  preserve.  The  breach  is  not  yet  irre- 
parable ;  and  permit  me  with  all  deference  to  say,  I  have  not  a  doubt^ 
but  that  liberal  and  explicit  terms  of  reconciliation,  with  a  full  and  firm 
security  against  an  oppressive  exercise  of  parliamentary  taxation,  if  held 
out  to  the  colonies  before  the  war  takes  a  wider  and  more  destructive 
course,  will  lead  instantly  to  a  settlement,  and  recall  the  former  years  of 
peace,  when  the  aft'ections  and  interests  of  Great  Britain  and  America 
were  one. 

But,  sir,  if,  on  the  contrary,  we  are  to  plunge  deeper  in  this  sea  of 
blood ;  if  we  are  to  sacrifice  the  means  and  materials  of  revenue  for  idle 
distinctions  about  modes  of  raising  it ;  if  the  laurels  we  can  gain,  and 
the  dignity  of  Parliament  we  are  to  establish,  can  be  purchased  only  by 
the  miseries  of  fellow  subjects,  whose  losses  are  our  own  ;  if  the  event  is 
precarious,  the  cause  alien  to  the  spirit  and  humanity  of  Englishmen  ;  if 
the  injury  is  certain,  and  the  object  of  success  unsubstantial  and  insecure, 
how  little  soever  the  influence  my  poor  opinion  may  have  on  this  House,  I 
shall  free  my  conscience  by  having  explicitly  condemned  all  such  un- 
profitable, inadequate,  injudicious  measures,  and  by  giving  my  hearty 
concurrence  to  the  motion. 


C. 

The  unjust  but  determined  purpose  of  the  British  Court,  to  enslave 
these  free  states,  obvious  through  every  delusive  insinuation  to  tlie  con- 

60 


474  APPENDIX. 

trary,  having  placed  things  in  such  a  situation,  that  the  very  existence  of 
civil  liberty  now  depends  on  the  right  execution  of  military  powers,  and 
the  vigorous,  decisive  conduct  of  these  being  impossible  to  distant,  numer- 
ous and  deliberative  bodies  ;  this  Congress,  having  maturely  considered 
the  present  crisis,  and  having  perfect  reliance  on  the  wisdom,  vigor  and 
uprightness  of  General  Washington,  do  hereby 

Resolve,  That  General  Washington  shall  be,  and  he  is  hereby  vested 
with  full,  ample,  and  complete  powers  to  raise  and  collect  together,  in  the 
most  speedy  and  effectual  manner,  from  any  or  all  of  these  United  States, 
sixteen  battalions  of  infantry,  in  addition  to  those  already  voted  by  Con- 
gress; to  appoint  officers  for  the  said  battalions  of  infantry ;  to  raise,  of- 
ficer and  equip  3000  light-horse;  three  regiments  of  artillery;  and  a 
corps  of  engineers,  and  to  establish  their  pay ;  to  apply  to  any  of  the 
states  for  such  aid  of  the  militia  as  he  shall  judge  necessary  ;  to  form 
such  magazines  of  provisions,  and  in  such  places,  as  he  shall  think  proper  ; 
to  displace  and  appoint  all  officers  under  the  rank  of  brigadier  general, 
and  to  fill  up  all  vacancies  in  every  other  department  in  the  American 
army  ;  to  take,  wherever  he  may  be,  whatever  he  may  want  for  the  use 
of  the  army,  if  the  inhabitants  will  not  sell  it,  allowing  a  reasonable  price 
for  the  same  ;  to  arrest  and  confine  persons  who  refuse  to  take  the  con- 
tinental currency,  or  are  otherwise  disaffected  to  the  American  cause ; 
and  return  to  the  states  of  which  they  are  citizens,  their  names,  and  the 
nature  of  their  offences,  together  with  the  witnesses  to  prove  them. 
That  the  foregoing  powers  be  vested  in  Gen.  Washington,  for  and  dur- 
ing the  term  of  six  months  from  the  date  hereof,  unless  sooner  deter- 
mined by  Congress. 


D. 

Letter  from  the  Convention  of  New-York  to  Isaac  Paris,  Esquire, 
chairman  of  ihe  committee  of  Tryon  county,  upon  the  subject  of  admin- 
istering a  general  oath  of  allegiance.* 

Kingston^  April  IQth,  1777. 
Sir: 

The  Convention  have  directed  me,  in  answer  to  your  letter  of  the  2d 
instant,  to  inform  you,  that  they  acknowledge  with  pleasure  the  zeal  and 
attention  to  the  public  welfare  manifested  in  most  of  your  public  pro- 
ceedings. They  are,  however,  very  doubtful  about  the  propriety  of  ad- 
ministering a  general  oath  of  allegiance,  especially  while  the  want  of  a 
regular  government  gives  people  a  plausible  pretence  to  refuse  it.  In 
those  few  counties  in  which  it  has  been  tried,  it  has  been  found 
productive  of  much  evil,  and  laid  aside,  after  experience    had  of  its 

*  Minutes  of  tho  Convention. 


APPENDIX.  475 

inutility.  It  is  sometimes  dangerous  to  probe  a  wound  too  deep. 
Our  unacquaintance  with  the  characters  of  the  people  ofyour  county  ren- 
ders it  dillicult  to  advise  you  respecting  tliose  you  liave  taken  up  :  we  can 
only,  in  general  terms,  recommend  you  to  keep  a  watchful  eye  over  such 
as  you  may  suspect,  and  to  retain  those  in  custody  whom  you  may  deem 
dangerous.  The  nature  of  their  confinement  must  be  submitted  to  your 
prudence.  The  inclosed  resolves  contain  an  answer  to  other  parts  of 
your  letter.  *  I  am  with  respect,  sir, 

Your  most  obed't  servant. 
By  order, 
Pierre  Van  Cortlandt,  Jr., 

President. 


E. 

Detail  of  proceedings  in  relation  to  the  district  of  Kinderhook.* 

In  June,  1774,  a  committee  of  two  persons  was  chosen  for  the  district 
of  Kinderhook,  and  in  May,  1775,  another  committee,  consisting  of  four, 
was  chosen  to  represent  the  district  in  County  Committee.  The  former 
election  was  held  at  Cornelius  Vosburgh's,  and  the  second  at  the  church, 
as  appears  by  the  returns,  which  was  to  continue  till  the  21st  December. 

A.  On  the  30th  October,  the  general  committee  ordered  new  elec- 
tions throughout  the  county.  Our  district  committee  gave  regular  no- 
tice to  the  freeholders,  to  meet  at  the  house  of  Cornelius  Vosburgh  to 
elect  a  new  committee  and  to  give  their  votes  for  deputies.  The  poll 
was  held  and  a  number  of  votes  taken  for  Andrew  Witbeck,  Barent  Van- 
derpoel,  Cornelius  Van  Schaack,  Jun.,  and  Derick  Gardinier.  At  length 
votes  were  challenged  and  rejected,  for  not  being  freeholders,  whereupon 
one  Isaac  Goes  with  a  small  party  left  the  place  of  election,  and  opened  a 
poll  by  their  own  authority,  at  which,  after  several  days'  exertion,  they 
got  a  few  more  votes  than  those  taken  by  the  district  committee.  Both 
polls  were  returned  to  the  County  Committee,  who  received  the  one  re- 
turned by  the  district  committee  as  the  regular  one.  Some  time  after, 
however,  the  same  committee  resolved  that  this  matter  should  be  referred 
to  the  new  committee,  and  be  resumed  by  them  as  the  proper  judges. 
Their  judicial  decision,  you  will  perceive  by  the  inclosed  letter  marked 
B,  and  the  reasons  why  our  district  committee  refused  to  accede  to  the 
compromise,  you  will  collect  from  their  answer  annexed  to  it.  All  this 
time,  not  a  word  was  said  about  the  place  of  election,  but  after  the  com- 
mittee took  their  seats,  and  had  rejected  a  second  proposal  for  taking  in 

*  The  documents  marked  A,  B,  C,  D,  E,  referred  to  in  this  detail,  have 
not  been  found  by  the  author. 


476  APPENDIX. 

two  and  two  of  a  side,  it  was  then  alleged  that  the  election  was  not  held 
at  the  proper  place. 

In  vain  was  it  urged  and  proved,  that  the  houses  of  Cornelius  Vos- 
burgh  and  Tobias  Van  Buren  were  not  above  two  hundred  yards  apart, 
and  that  neither  of  the  former  elections  for  Committees  and  Deputies 
had  been  held  at  the  latter  place,  and  that  to  impeach  the  present  elec- 
tion on  account  of  its  being  held  at  a  supposed  wrong  place,  was  to  im- 
peach every  thing  the  district  had  done  in  relation  to  Congresses  and 
Committees  :  that  although  elections  for  town  officers  had  been  for  sev- 
eral years  held  at  Tobias  Van  Buren's,  yet,  before  that  time  they  had 
been  held  at  other  houses.  And  that  in  May,  1775,  the  people  at  a  town 
meeting  in  consequence  of  an  act  of  Assembly,  voted  that  their  future 
elections  might  be  held  at  anyplace  in  the  town  of  Kinderhook ;  notwith- 
standing all  this  the  committee  vacated  the  election,  and  took  great  of- 
fence at  a  protest,  which  one  member  left  in  justification  of  their  own,  and 
the  conduct  of  their  predecessors.  Then  it  was  that  the  general  commit- 
tee, being  credibly  informed  by  Mr.  Goes,  that  the  majority  of  the  old  free- 
holders might  be  against  him,  yet,  upon  the  whole,  the  major  part  of  the 
inhabitants  were  in  his  favor,  ordered,  not  that  tenants  having  lands  of  a 
certain  value,  but  that  every  inhabitant  should  vote.  The  new  election 
terminated  in  a  great  majority  of  voters  in  favor  of  the  old  members. 

In  May,  there  was  another  election,  which  ended  without  opposition 
in  favor  of  Lucas  Goes,  Lambert  Burghardt,  Abraham  Van  Vleck  and 
Peter  Van  Schaack,  who  attended  the  county  convention  at  their  next 
sitting. 

It  is  proper  here  to  remark,  that  after  the  district  election,  and  before 
the  meeting  of  the  committee,  bodies  of  armed  men,  from  Claverack  and 
King's  districts,  and  from  Massachusetts  Bay,  had  invaded  the  district, 
and  without  authority  of  any  committee  in  this  county,  had  disarmed, 
dragooned  and  ill-treated  the  inhabitants,  of  which  a  regular  complaint 
was  made  to  the  county  committee  in  writing.  A  sub-committee  was  by 
them  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  facts,  who  reported  that  they  had  been 
fully  proved  on  oath  before  them.  Notwithstanding  this,  no  notice  was 
taken  of  the  report,  and  no  redress  given  to  the  persons  injured  ;  and  in- 
stead of  passing  a  censure  on  the  delinquents,  the  committee  left  them 
in  possession  of  what  they  had  taken,  and  expelled  the  district  committee 
"unheard,  unquestioned,  and  without  even  the  specious  formality  of  a 
trial,"  and  that  too  by  an  order  made  expressly  for  the  purpose. 

The  election,  in  November,  1775,  was  ordered  to  be  of  the  freehold- 
ers, (this  was  consonant  to  the  orders  of  the  general  Congress  in  1774,) — 
that  in  January,  1776,  by  all  the  inhabitants.  Neither  would  answer  the 
purpose  of  bringing  certain  persons  in.  A  new  engine  was  now  set  in 
motion,  and  none  were  to  be  chosen,  but  those  whose  principles  were 
known  to  be  friendly  to  the  American  cause;  and  no  elector  was  to  vote 
unless  he  had  signed  the  association  previous  to  that  order.  See 
paper  E. 


APPENDIX.  477 

This  paper  was  preceded,  tlie  day  before,  witli  a  party  of  fifty  men, 
who  came  with  an  order  from  the  <reneral  committee,  to  take  up  seven- 
teen of  our  inhabitants,  amoii^^  whom  were  those  who  have  been  sup- 
posed to  have  most  influence,  and  who  were  committed  to  prison,  upon  a 
cliartTc  hereafter  to  be  mentioned. 

But,  though  the  committee  declared  that  there  was  a  just  necessity 
for  the  district's  being  represented,  and  though  they  had  fixed  the  quaH- 
fications  for  the  members  as  well  as  voters,  and  though  the  persons  who 
were  supposed  most  unfriendly  were  safely  lodged  in  jail,  and  though 
there  was  an  armed  force  to  intimidate  opposition,  yet  so  it  happened, 
that  the  election  again  failed,  as  the  returning  officers  (not  inhabitants  of 
this  district,  but  appointed  by  the  committee)  could  not  hold  their  poll, 
each  having  a  different  opinion  from  the  others  respecting  the  mode  of 
taking  votes,  and  deciding  the  qualifications  of  the  candidates  and 
electors.  No  return  therefore  was  made,  and  the  district  remained  un- 
represented. This  was  in  June,  and  although  the  Provincial  Congress 
had  ordered  that  the  sense  of  the  counties  should  be  taken,  respecting 
the  deputies  to  form  a  new  government,  and  although  the  county  com- 
mittee had  ordered  elections  in  every  other  district,  yet  the  freeholders  of 
Kinderhook,  as  numerous,  wealthy  and  respectable  as  any  other  dis- 
trict, were  excluded  from  the  privilege  of  voting  on  this  truly  momen- 
tous occasion. 

During  all  this  time,  however,  though  the  district  was  deprived 
(whether  rightfully  or  arbitrarily  must  be  submitted)  of  the  privilege  of 
representation;  they  were  not  however  forgotten  when  any  burthens 
were  imposed,  their  quotas  of  drafts  being  strictly  required,  and  faith- 
fully furnished,  with  a  temper  and  forbearance  which  encouraged  new 
insults. 

The  seventeen  persons  who  were  apprehended  upon  the  mandate 
before  mentioned,  were  kept  imprisoned  for  seventeen  days,  (all  offers 
of  bail  being  rejected,)  and  then  discharged,  the  committee  declaring 
that  the  charge  against  them  was  not  of  sufficient  weight  to  require  de- 
fence. There  was  to  be  punishment,  however,  though  there  was  no 
guilt;  for,  notwithstanding  their  declared  innocence,  they  were  charged 
with  the  expense  of  a  major,  and  a  party  of  fifty-odd  men,  to  parade 
through  the  district,  though  not  a  man  but  would  have  attended  upon  the 
shghtest  notice.  Nor  was  this  yet  sufficient;  but  the  charges  were  to  be 
accumulated  by  transmitting  the  bill  of  costs  to  the  committee  of  another 
district,  who  employed  an  officer,  who  levied  his  mileage  in  addition  to 
the  original  charges,  and  all  this  without  any  request  from  the  com- 
mittee for  the  payment,  or  any  intimation  that  they  were  to  be  paid. 

Even  at  this  time,  one  of  the  majors,  with  some  other  officers,  picked 
and  culled  by  himself,  without  any  notice  to  the  other  field  officers,  are 
fining  the  people  at  their  will  and  pleasure,  for  not  going  on  the  late 
alarm.     It  is  said  that  some  of  them  have  this  week  obtained  commis- 


478  APPENDIX. 

sions,  superseding  the  old  field  officers ;  but  they  have  been  fining  even 
a  fortnight  before  they  received  them. 

Thus  are  the  people  deprived  of  their  property,  by  a  resolve  of  the 
committee,  (a  body  in  which  they  were  not  permitted  to  have  a  repre- 
sentation, and  one  which  was  therefore  a  mutilated  one,)  a  resolve  ma- 
terially differing  from  that  of  the  Provincial  Congress,  as  it  imposes  a  fine 
of  fifty  pounds ;  and  a  resolve  never  published  in  the  district  till  its 
effects  are  so  severely  felt. 

Upon  what  representation  the  officers  are  superseded  is  not  known, 
as  they  had  not  any  hearing  previous  to  it,  but  it  may  be  proper  to  re- 
mark, that  the  Colonel  went  up  on  the  alarm  with  the  first,  and  staid 
with  the  last  of  the  militia.  This  officer  is  deprived  of  the  right  of  fining, 
while  Colonel  Lansing,  of  Albany,  who  w^as  buying  goods  at  Philadel- 
phia during  the  time,  holds  his  seal  in  imposing  the  fines  on  his  regiment. 

Thus  have  the  inhabitants  of  this  district  been  used ;  while,  notwith- 
standing the  assertion  of  the  committee,  that  there  was  not  only  a  neces- 
sity, but  a  just  one,  that  they  should  be  represented,  they  have  been 
excluded  from  a  representation  at  every  Board  on  the  continent  ever 
since  June  last,  and  at  the  Provincial  and  Continental  Congresses,  too, 
ever  since  December,  1775,  if  the  election  was  justly  vacated  in  January, 
1776,  on  account  of  its  being  held  in  an  improper  place. 

I  pledge  myself  for  the  proof  of  the  above  facts  if  they  are  contro- 
verted. 
Kinderhook,  25th  Jan.,  1777.  Peter  Van  Schaack. 


F. 

Die  Lu72CB,  10  ho.  A.  M.,  February  3d,  1777. 
The  Committee  met  pursuant  to  adjournment ;  present : 

James  Livingston,  Esq.,  Chairman. 

Mr.  Diiane,  J 

Col.  Broome,  >    Neiv-York. 

Mr.  Rob.  Harper,  ) 

Mr.  Tappen,  Ulster. 

Judffe  Graham,  Westchester. 

Mr.  Jos.  Smith,  Orange. 
Mr.  Newkirk, 


Mr.  Wm.  Harper, 


Tryon. 


Mr.  Stephens,  Cumberland. 

Major  Webster,  Charlotte. 

A  letter  from  Peter  Van  Schaack,  dated  at  Kinderhook  on  the  24th 
January,  was  read.     He  therein  informs,  that  he  is  sentenced  by  the 


APPENDIX.  479 

committee  for  detecting  conspiracies,  on  their  order,  to  make  the  town  of 
Boston  his  prison — he  tlierein  assigns  some  reasons  for  his  having  re- 
lused  taking  an  oatli  of  allegiance  to  this  State,  and  requests  permission 
to  remove  from  this  State  with  his  family  and  effects. 

A  detail  of  the  proceedings  of  the  county  committee  of  Albany,  and 
of  the  district  committee  of  Kinderhook,  from  June,  1774,  to  January, 
1777,  inclosed  and  therein  referred  to,  was  read. 

A  paper  marked  A,  referred  to  in  the  said  detail  as  a  copy  of  the 
order  of  the  general  committee  at  Albany  for  the  choice  of  a  new  com- 
mittee, dated  30lh  October,  1775,  and  a  copy  of  an  advertisement  of  the 
Kinderhook  committee,  dated  November,  1775,  was  also  read. 

A  paper  marked  B,  mentioned  in  the  said  detail  as  a  copy  of  a  letter 
from  Abraham  Yates,  Jun.,  chairman  of  the  committee  of  Albany,  to  the 
committee  of  Kinderhook,  dated  the  7th  December,  1775,  was  read. 

A  paper  marked  C,  and  referred  to  in  the  said  detail  as  a  copy  of  an 
advertisement  for  holding  an  election  for  a  committee,  to  represent  the 
district  of  Kinderhook,  in  the  general  committee  of  the  county,  and  dated 
January  6th,  1776,  was  read. 

A  paper  marked  D,  and  referred  to  in  the  said  detail  as  a  copy  of  the 
protest  from  the  committee  of  the  district  of  Kinderhook,  dated  on  the  5th 
January,  1776,  was  read,  and 

A  paper  marked  E,  and  referred  to  in  the  said  detail  as  the  last 
advertisement  for  holding  an  election  in  the  district  of  Kinderhook,  dated 
at  Albany,  18th  June,  1776,  was  also  read. 

Thereupon,  ordered  that  the  said  Peter  Van  Schaack  do  attend  the 
Convention  of  this  State. 


G. 

!,  Peter  Van  Schaack,  of  Kinderhook,  in  the  county  of  Albany,  Esquire, 
do  hereby  promise  and  engage,  upon  my  honor  as  a  gentleman,  to  return 
to  my  usual  place  of  abode,  and  remain  there  till  the  further  order  of  the 
Convention,  or  future  executive  power  of  the  State  of  New- York ;  to  attend 
the  said  Convention  or  executive  power  on  notice  for  that  purpose  ;  and 
in  the  mean  time,  that  I  will  neither  directly  or  indirectly  do  or  say  any 
thing  to  the  prejudice  of  the  American  cause.  In  witness  whereof  I  have 
hereunto  subscribed  my  name,  at  Kingston,  in  Ulster  county,  this  4th 
day  of  April,  1777. 

Peter  Van  Schaack. 
Test. :  RoBT.  Benson,  SecrUj. 

H. 

Saturday,  18th  April,  1778. — Minutes  relating  to  the  last  sickness  and 
death  of  my  ever  dear  and  ever  to  be  regretted  wife,  intended  to  preserve 


480 


APPENDIX 


in  my  mind  the  remembrance  of  those  solemn  scenes,  and  also  designed 
for  the  dear  pledges  of  our  affection,  when  they  shall  arrive  at  a  proper  age 
to  profit  by  so  pious  an  example  ;  and,  deprived  so  early  of  her  tender 
maternal  care,  that  they  may  hear  her,  though  dead,  yet  speaking !  God 
grant  it  may  not  be  in  vain. 

About  eight  o'clock  I  acquainted  her  that  it  was  the  opinion  of  Dr.  T* 
that  she  would  not  recover,  which  she  received  with  great  composure, 
and  desired  to  see  her  aunt  M.  Some  time  after,  she  complained  that  I 
had  not  told  her  before  of  it,  which  I  excused  on  account  of  her  confused 
state  of  mind  yesterday,  owing  to  the  opium  she  had  taken.  She  ad- 
mitted the  excuse,  and  then  after  giving  directions  about  her  children, 
she  told  us  she  thanked  God  that  she  felt  herself  perfectly  easy,  and 
waited  his  good  time.  Once  she  wished  it  might  be  soon,  but  checked 
herself  as  if  this  might  indicate  impatience.  She  very  devoutly  thanked 
God  for  the  happy  change  wrought  in  her,  observing  that  she  had  been 
afraid  of  death,  and  that  even  a  few  nights  since  all  was  darkness,  but 
now  she  was  happy.  Observing  her  friends  to  shed  tears,  she  begged 
them  not  to  grieve  at  her  happiness.  She  was  going,  she  said,  from  one 
dear  Cornelius  to  another  dear  Cornelius.  Her  dear  mamma  she  hoped 
to  meet  in  Heaven.     She  wished  much  to  have  seen  her  papa  once  more. 

• There  was  a  heavy  calamity  hanging  over  this  country,  and  this 

summer  might  be  a  dreadful  one,  but  she  would  be  at  peace  in  her  grave  ; 
— that  I  should  write  to  all  her  friends  and  tell  them  what  she  would  say 
to  them.  She  had  frequently  lamented  her  being  removed  from  New- 
York,  whereby  she  was  deprived  of  advantages  which  she  highly  prized, 
and  where  she  was  in  a  happy  way,  but  now  she  said  she  would  not 
have  been  happier  than  she  was  at  this  time,  had  she  remained  in  New- 
York. 

She  took  a  solemn  and  affecting  leave  of  the  servants,  particularly  of 
her  own  wench,  who  had  behaved  very  ill,  and  of  the  aged  one  of  her 
father.  God  bless  you,  she  said,  to  the  latter,  I  hope  to  see  you  in  heaven, 
and  to  meet  your  dear  mistress  there  ; — do  not  grieve  for  me,  I  am  happy. 
Her  charge  to  H.  Van  Dyck  about  me,  begging  him  often  to  visit  me, 
especially  on  Sunday  evenings,  and  to  avoid  controverted  points,  such 
as  predestination. 

Saturday  evening,  she  asked  if  we  thought  she  could  live  till  morning 
— she  thought  she  could  not.  Sunday  morning,  she  asked  if  there  was 
any  thing  wrong  in  praying  for  a  speedy  dissolution  ;  upon  our  reasoning 
with  her  to  convince  her  there  was  not,  "  Oh  !"  she  said,  "  Jesus  Christ, 
receive  me  then  this  day,  and  let  me  this  day  be  with  the  blessed  spirits 
in  Heaven." 

She  frequently  repeated  the  surprising  change  in  her  mind,  and  said, 
upon  my  mentioning  that  she  was  given  over,  although  she  till  then  fully 
expected  to  recover,  she  felt  a  most  inexpressible  happiness  which  had 
continued  ever  since.    She  addressed  my  brother  Harry,  recommending 


APPENDIX.  48 1 

to  liini  the  pursuit  of  rclifTJon  as  llic  only  ground  orhappinn?:i5.     "  I,"  said 
she,  "  am  cutoUin  tlie  prime  ollilo,  but  am  happy." 

She  asked  me  when  Mr.  Jay  was  expected  lierc.  She  wished  mc  to 
convince  liim,  she  harbored  no  resentment  for  the  refusal  of  her  request. 
I  asked  her  whether  slie  wouhl  not  also  forgive  the  committee,  who  liad 
refused  her  physician  leave  to  visit  her — "  Yes,  she  forgave  them  and 
every  body." 

About  twelve  o'clock  she  addressed  the  nurse  in  a  very  particular 
manner  about  the  baby — recommending  her  to  her  care,  charging  her 
with  a  message  to  Mrs.  Cruger,  whom  she  had  appointed  the  guardian 
of  the  child.  She  was  happy,  she  repeated,  and  hoped  this  after- 
noon would  be  her  last. 

Monday  morning,  she  saw  little  Betsey,  and  blessed  her  with  tlie 
greatest  composure,  though  with  an  eye  of  the  greatest  tenderness.  She 
felt  no  pain,  she  said,  at  seeing  her,  as  she  had  given  the  child  over. 
She  recommended  to  the  nurse  to  be  on  her  guard  over  her  passions,  to 
curb  them,  and  she  hoped  to  meet  her  in  heaven.  The  leave  she  took 
of  little  Cornelius  was  also  truly  adecting,  desiring  that  he  might  not  be 
brought  to  her  again,  as  she  had  given  him  over.  She  gave  me  a  very 
solemn  injunction  about  my  irregular  tempers — charging  me  to  be  watch- 
ful of  myself,  and  pronouncing  the  word  circumspect  with  great  empha- 
sis. She  then  had  locks  of  her  hair  cut  otiTor  me  and  others,  (who  were 
present,)  for  her  aunt  Mary,  her  sister,  and  for  Mrs.  Cruger. 

She  had  at  times  slight  alienations  of  mind,  the  elicct  of  a  too  great 
exertion  of  spirits  ;  but  in  the  main  she  preserved  her  serenity  of  mind, 
and  the  greatest  strength  of  understanding,  devoutly  wishing  lor  her  dis- 
solution, and  repeatedly  asking  of  us  how  long  we  thought  she  could  live, 
and  wishing  the  doctors  to  lell  her  with  certainty.     She  expressed  tome 
the  greatest  concern  for  my  happiness — '-most  sincerely  and  from  the 
bottom  of  my  heart  do  I  pity  your  situation  !"  were  her  words.     I  was 
told  that  she  expressed  the  highest  sense  of  my  attention  to  her,  and 
prayed  God  to  reward  me  for  it,  and  said  I  had  done  every  thing  for  her. 
About  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  I  thought  she  was  dying,  and  she 
was  put  to  bed,  and  then  such  a  scene  followed  !  Great  God  of  heaven 
and  earth  support  me  under  the  remembrance  of  it ! — violent  agonies  !  in 
which  she  preserved  her  mind  entire,  though  her  body  was  racked  to  pieces. 
— "  Come,  blessed  Jesus  !  come.  Lord,  quickly,  come  and  relieve  me  from 
these  agonies  !"  were  the  piercing  expressions  she  repeatedly  used  ;  her 
eyes  lifted  up  in  the  most  devout  manner.     When  her  agony  subsided  she 
prayed  most  fervently  that  it  might  not  return.     "  Oh  !"  said  she,  "  how 
hard  it  is  for  soul  and  body  to  part ;  but  thou,  Jesus,  hast  promised  me  1 
shall  not  again  suffer  so  much."     I  read  to  her  some  pious  ejaculations 
adapted  to  her  situation,  which  she  attended  to  and  approved  of,  assentino- 
to  them  with  great  fervor.     I  also  read  a  prayer  against  the  fear  of 
death,  intermixing  my  own  reflections  to  comfort  her,  exhorting  her  to 

61 


482  APPENDIX. 

support  her  patience — that  her  sufferings  would  soon  be  over,  while  the 
blessed  prospect  of  an  everlasting  happiness  was  open  to  her.  She  told 
us  once  that  she  did  not  suffer  for  herself  alone,  but  for  us  all,  meaning 
for  the  instruction  and  benefit  of  us  all.  When  she  once  took  notice  of 
some  things  in  the  room,  I  entreated  her  to  withdraw  her  mind  from  every 
thing  but  her  own  situation,  as  I  imagined  she  was  in  a  slight  absence  of 
mind.  "  O  !"  said  she,  "my  agonies  make  me  think  of  every  thing." 
Her  last  groans  I  heard  not,  and  I  dread  to  inquire  about  them. 

Throughout  the  whole  dreadful  scene,  however,  she  showed  no  impa- 
tience  ;  "  quickly  come,  blessed  Jesus,"  was  the  only  expression  that  look- 
ed like  it,  and  that  was  extorted  by  her  agonies:  and  though  she  prayed 
against  the  repetition  of  them,  yet  she  added,  "  not  as  I  will,  but  as  thou 
wilt !"  Her  pains  were  evidently  the  pains  of  her  body  ;  her  mind  had  no 
apprehensions,  and  seemed  most  anxiously  to  pant  after  an  emancipation 
from  the  world.  Her  prayers  were  heard,  and  about  ten  o'clock  on  Mon- 
day night  she  expired,  leaving  a  complacent  smile  on  her  countenance  1 

Thus  died  this  valuable  woman,  than  whom  few  of  her  sex  have  suf- 
fered more  either  in  body  or  mind — a  delicate  constitution  originally.  In 
October,  1774,  she  lost  one  child  on  whom  she  doted.  In  May,  1775, 
our  eldest  son,  Cornelius,  a  promising  child,  in  the  bloom  of  health,  was 
taken  ill,  and  died  at  Kinderhook  in  July,  within  a  few  days  after  which, 
when  she  every  day  expected  the  youngest  child  from  New- York  with 
its  nurse,  the  sloop  arrived  with  an  account  of  his  death  two  days  after 
the  interment  of  the  other  !  In  August,  1776,  she  was  seized  with  a 
dreadful  vomiting  of  blood,  which  produced  a  weakness  in  the  lungs,  that 
finally  terminated  in  a  decUne  whereof  she  died.  During  all  her  distresses, 
she  preserved  the  greatest  patience  and  resignation,  and  though  possess- 
ed of  the  liveliest  sensibility,  which  made  her  feel  most  severely  those  ca- 
lamities wherein  her  tender  affections  were  so  deeply  engaged,  she  receiv- 
ed the  stroke  without  murmuring  at  the  hand  which  gave  it,  always  de- 
ducing some  useful  consequences  from  every  distress  she  underwent. 
Her  judgment  was  extremely  clear,  and  her  understanding  naturally 
strong;  by  her  own  improvement  of  which,  (not  having  had  much  educa- 
tion.) she  arrived  at  a  very  considerable  degree  of  accuracy  in  her  wri- 
ting. 

But  the  leading  star  in  her  character,  was  her  piety,  which  was 
equally  fervent  and  rational.  Sincerity  in  her  devotions,  and  humility  of 
heart,  with  charity  to  the  poor,  were  graces  which  she  eminently  pos- 
sessed. Her  idea  of  the  Supreme  Being  was  exalted ;  and  what  I  verily 
believe  chiefly  employed  her  mind,  was  the  great  work  of  redemption. 
Everything  on  this  subject  she  read  and  heard  with  the  utmost  pleasure  ; 
the  decay  of  religion  she  very  sincerely  lamented,  often  expressing  that 
the  true  worshippers  were  a  small  flock.  Her  mind  was  not  easy  on 
account  of  the  neglects  of  her  Christian  duties,  wherewith  she  reproached 
herself,  and  she  regretted  the  want  of  those  ordinances  which  had  so 


APPENDIX.  483 

much  elevated  her  devotion  in  New-York,  for  vvliich  and  wliicli  only  she 
wished  to  be  there  again.  To  supply  the  want  of  tiiese,  she  soui^ht 
every  opportunity  of  religious  conversation,  and  how  sincerely  she  culti- 
vated these,  few  as  they  were,  her  friends  can  testily. 

She  forbore  all  investigations  of  abstruse  points,  confining  herself 
merely  to  the  plain,  practical  doctrines  of  Christianity,  but  so  far  from 
Pharisaical  self-righteousness,  she  ascribed  every  good  to  the  Great 
Source  of  all  goodness,  and  the  last  happy  state  of  her  mind,  she  fre- 
quently declared,  was  all  to  be  imputed  to  the  glory  of  God.  Her  fears 
of  death  entirely  vanished  when  she  was  certain  of  its  approaches,  and 
she  felt  her  mind  so  devoutly  composed,  as  plainly  showed  that  she  had 
received  some  divine  consolation.  Upon  no  other  principle  can  I  account 
lor  her  entire  victory  over  the  terrors  of  death,  and  her  perfect  confidence 
of  future  happiness. 

Anxious  to  know  what  passed  in  her  own  mind  upon  such  a  momentous 
subject,  and  to  be  enabled  to  have  proper  grounds  whereon  to  form  my 
own  reflections,  and  whereby  to  illustrate  a  general  doctrine  by  an  ex- 
ample under  my  own  eye,  I  asked  her  whether  she  was  sensible  of  any 
sensations  which  she  had  never  experienced  before,  to  which  she  an- 
swered that  she  was  not ;  that  she  had  felt  like  pleasures  when  in  the 
exercise  of  her  devotions,  alluding  to  those  times  which  she  often  spoke 
of  with  rapture,  when  she  said  she  was  in  a  blessed  state,  in  a  happy 
way,  and  frequently  has  she  lamented  the  loss  (or  as  it  now  appears, 
suspension  only)  of  that  happy  frame  of  mind.  % 

Her  domestic  character  was  exemplary  ;  as  a  housekeeper,  her  man- 
agement was  judicious  and  economical,  though  to  this  she  had  never 
been  brought  up,  having  lost  her  mother  early.  Her  attention  to  the 
education  of  her  children,  though  too  infirm  to  exercise  it  as  she  wished, 
was  unremitting.  Reverence  to  God,  however,  she  never  ceased  to  in- 
culcate upon  their  tender  minds. 

"  From  hence  remov'd  to  regions  here  unknown, 
We  but  resign  what  none  can  call  his  own, 
Time,  life  and  friends  ;  with  every  talent  giv'n, 
T'  improve  on  earth,  the  precious  boon  of  Heaven. 

"  Hail,  happy  souls  !  whose  race  is  safely  run, 
Their  warfare  ended,  and  their  joy  begun  ! 
Their  sacred  dust  in  sweet  repose  shall  keep, 
Till  Heaven's  last  trump  shall  rouse  oblivion's  sleep, 
When  fresh  renewed,  their  sacred  dust  shall  rise, 
Resume  its  form,  and  hail  its  native  skies  !" 


"  This  madd'ning  brain,  all-gracious  Heaven  defend, 
Nor  let  me  dare  presunaptuously  to  blame, 
For  0  I  to  question  may  be  to  offend, 
But  sure  to  murmur  must  be  to  blaspheme. 


484  APPENDIX. 

"  Yet  the  great  Power  whose  wisdom  could  bestow 
A  sense  so  sharp  and  exquisite  of  pain, 
Will  pardon,  if  extravagance  of  wo 
Should  make  a  wretch  improperly  complain." 

Support  me  with  thy  divine  assistance,  O  thou  Righteous  Judge  of 
the  world  !  and  having  confidence  in  thy  goodness,  O  God  !  enable  me 
to  bear  this  heavy  dispensation  with  a  resigned  and  patient  mind.     Ena- 
ble me  to  discover,  and  to  submit  to  thy  gracious  purpose  on  this  affect- 
ing occasion ;  and  to  fulfil  it  as  far  as  in  thy  mercy  it  may  be  intended 
for  my  own  benefit.     Let  me  aspire  to  that  happy  frame  of  mind  wherein 
she  died,  and  when  I  stagger  from  my  present  purposes,  enable  me  to 
recall  her  pious  example  and   dying  injunctions,  for  my  temporal  and 
eternal  happiness.     Gracious  Father,  strengthen  me  to  overcome  those 
irregular  passions  and  evil  tempers,  which  continually  lead  me  away  from 
the  counsels  of  that  reason  w^hich  thou  hast  given  me,  and  bountifully 
given  me  may  I  say,  when  it  only  means  to  condemn  me  the  more  se- 
verely for  the  abuse  of  talents,  which  have  had  the  benefit  of  a  liberalim- 
provement.     When  I  feel  myself  wavering  from  my  better  purposes, 
srive  me  grace  to  call  to  mind  those  sentiments  which  I  feel  on  this  af- 
fecting  occasion.     When  the  pleasures  of  the  world  would  eradicate  them, 
let  me  recollect  how  vain  they  all  appear  in  a  dying  hour,  and  let  not 
truths  lose  their  force  because  common  and  frequently  inculcated ;  for 
these  truths  we  must  all  one  day  wish  to  feel,  since  without  that,  our 
deaths  must  be  the  beginning  of  misery  instead  of  an  entrance  into  a 
happy  immortality. 

Let  not  the  agonies  this  excellent  woman  endured  before  her  disso- 
lution, (however  distressing  the  recollection,)  abate  of  the  force  of  her 
Christian  example ; — they  were  the  pangs  of  the  body,  and  she  would 
have  felt  them,  and  with  how  much  additional  force  thou  only  knowest, 
had  she  not  been  the  Christian  she  was  ;  and  let  us  never  forget  that  she 
lost  not  her  reliance  on  thee  by  them,  but  only  prayed  the  more  fervently 
for  her  consummation.  For  my  consolation  and  example  let  me  also  re- 
member, that  from  the  time  the  fatal  tidings  that  she  was  past  recovery 
were  announced  to  her,  which  she  received  with  the  most  perfect  sereni- 
ty, she  never  expressed  the  least  desire  of  life,  never  was  the  least  de- 
jected in  her  spirits,  or  distrustful  of  her  God,  or  expressed  the  least  re- 
gret of  leaving  this  world,  or  doubt  of  attaining  happiness  in  the  other, 
being  continually  supported  by  the  most  divine  affiance  in  her  God, 
through  the  merits  alone  of  her  Redeemer :  and  let  it  also  be  remem- 
bered, that  though  she  had  slight  alienations  of  mind,  yet  when  they 
went  oflMier  understanding  manifested  the  greatest  clearness,  and  in  a 
thousand  instances  which  I  can  recollect,  she  showed  the  utmost 
propriety  and  decorum  in  her  conduct,  especially  in  choosing  occa- 
sions of  mentioning  particular  matters  to  be  done  after  her  decease. 


APPENDIX.  485 

May  these  short  liints,  grounded  oii  transactions  whereto  I  was  my- 
self a  constant  witness,  (hints,  t^ken  while  tlic  impressions  arising  from 
those  solemn  scenes  were  recent  and  elFicacious,)  have  their  due  weight 
on  my  children,  for  whose  benefit  they  are  thus  committed  to  paper. 
They  will  often,  I  hope,  ruminate  on  the  loss  they  have  sustained,  in  the 
early  death  of  a  mother  whose  maternal  care  was  unremitting,  as  her 
conduct  towards  them  was  judicious,  and  well  calculated  for  their  happi- 
ness, temporal  as  well  as  eternal,  and  by  leading  such  a  life  as  her  pray- 
ers for  them  constantly  aspired  after,  pay  the  best  tribute  to  her  memory. 

"  Why  heavy,  why  cast  down,  my  soul ! 
Trust  God,  and  he'll  employ 
His  promised  aid,  and  change  these  sighs, 
To  thankful  hymns  of  joy." 

That  will  then  be,  when  her  pious  prayers  for  my  eternal  welfare,  are 
productive  of  that  reliance  on  God's  providence,  which  will  enable  me 
to  see  his  goodness  to  be  no  greater  when  he  gives,  than  when  he  takes 
away  !     Blessed  be  his  name ! 

"Tears,  when  time  has  matured  a  pungent  grief  into  a  sweet  melan- 
choly, are  not  hurtful:  they  are  as  the  dew  of  the  morning  to  the  green 
herbage." — London. 


I. 

An  act  more  effectually  to  prevent  the  mischiefs,  arising  from  the  in- 
fluence and  example  of  persons  of  equivocal  and  suspected  characters, 
in  this  State.     Passed  the  30tli  June,  177S. 

Whereas,  certain  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  State  have,  during  the 
course  of  the  present  cruel  war,  waged  by  the  King  and  Parliament  of  (ireai 
Britain  against  the  people  of  these  States,  atfected  to  maintain  a  neutrali- 
ty, which  there  is  reason  to  suspect  was  in  many  instances  dictated  by  a 
poverty  of  spirit,  and  an  undue  attachment  to  property:  And  whereas, 
divers  of  the  said  persons,  some  of  whom  advocated  the  American  cause 
till  it  became  serious,  have,  notwithstanding  the  forbearance  of  their 
countrymen,  and  contrary  to  the  faith  pledged  by  their  paroles,  ungrate- 
fully and  insidiously  from  time  to  time,  by  artful  misrepresentations,  and 
a  subtle  dissemination  of  doctrines,  fears  and  apprehensions  false  in  them- 
selves and  injurious  to  the  American  cause,  seduced  weak-minded 
persons  from  the  duties  they  owed  their  country :  And  whereas  the 
welfare  of  this  state  loudly  demands  that  some  decisive  measures  be 
taken  with  respect  to  the  said  persons,  and  it  being  repugnant  to  justice 
as  well  as  good  policy,  that  men  should  be  permitted  to  shelter  themselvea 


486  APPENDIX. 

under  a  government,  which  they  not  only  refused  to  assist  in  rearing,  but 
which,  some  of  them  daily  endeavor  to  undermine  and  subvert;  And 
whereas^  such  few  of  the  said  persons,  as  may  have  been  led  to  take  a 
neutral  part  by  conscientious  doubts  and  scruples  have  had  more  than 
sufficient  time  to  consider  and  determine  the  same: 

I.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  people  of  the  State  of  New-  York  represented  in 
Senate  and  Assembly^  and  it  is  hereby  enacted  by  the  authority  of  the  same, 
That  the  Commissioners  appointed  for  inquiring  into,  detecting  and 
defeating  all  conspiracies,  which  may  be  formed  in  this  State,  against 
the  liberties  of  America,  or  any  three  of  them,  be,  and  they  are  hereby 
authorized  and  strictly  charged  and  required,  to  cause  all  such  persons  of 
neutral  and  equivocal  characters  in  this  State,  whom  they  shall  think 
have  influence  sufficient  to  do  mischief  in  it,  to  come  before  them,  and  to 
administer  to  the  said  persons  respectively,  the  following  oath,  or  if  of 
the  people  called  Quakers,  affirmation,  viz. : 

•'  I,  A  B,  do  solemnly,  and  without  any  mental  reservation  or  equiv- 
ocation whatever,  swear  and  call  God  to  witness  ;  or  if  of  the  people 
called  duakers,  affirm,  that  I  do  believe  and  acknowledge  the  State  of 
New-York  to  be  of  right,  a  free  and  independent  State.  And  that  no 
authority  or  power  can  of  right  be  exercised  in  or  over  the  said  State, 
but  what  is,  or  shall  be  granted  by,  or  derived  from  the  people  thereof. 
A7id  further,  That  as  a  good  subject  of  the  free  and  independent  State 
oi^  New- York,  I  will,  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge  and  ability,  faithfully  do 
my  duty ;  and  as  I  shall  keep  or  disregard  this  oath,  so  help  and  deal 
with  me  Almighty  God." 

II.  And  be  it  further  enacted  hy  the  authority  aforesaid,  That  if  on 
the  oath  or  affirmation  being  so  tendered,  the  said  person  or  persons  shall 
refuse  to  take  the  same,  the  said  Commissioners  do  forthwith  remove  the 
said  person  or  persons  so  refusing,  to  any  place  within  the  enemy's  lines, 
and  by  writing  under  their  hands  and  seals,  certify  the  names  of  such 
person  or  persons  to  the  Secretary  of  this  State,  who  is  hereby  required 
to  record  and  file  the  said  certificates. 

III.  And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid.  That  if  any 
of  the  said  neutrals,  shall  abscond  or  absent  himself  with  an  apparent 
view  to  avoid  the  force  of  this  act,  the  said  Commissioners  shall,  by  notice 
published  in  one  or  more  of  the  newspapers  of  this  State,  demand  of  the 
said  person  or  persons  so  absconding  or  absenting  to  appear  before  them, 
at  such  place  in  this  State,  and  at  such  time,  not  exceeding  twenty. one 
days  from  the  time  of  such  publication,  as  they  shall  assign.  And  further, 
that  default  in  such  appearance  shall  be  adjudged  to  amount  to,  and  is 
hereby  declared  to  be  a  refusal  to  take  said  oath  or  affirmation. 

IV.  And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid.  That  if  any 
of  the  persons  removed  to  places  within  the  enemy's  lines  by  the  said 
Commissioners,  in  pursuance  of  this  act,  or  who,  having  as  aforesaid 
absconded  or  absented,  shall  not  on  notice  as  aforesaid  appear  before  the 


APPENDIX.  487 

said  Commlssionors  and  take  tlic  oath  or  afTlrrnation  afbrcKaid,  shall 
thereafter  be  found  in  any  part  of  this  State;  t^uch  person  or  persons  so 
found,  shall  on  conviction  thereof  be  adjudged  guilty  of  niiKprision  of 
treason. 

And  to  the  end,  That  this  State  may  in  some  measure  be  compensated 
for  the  injuries  it  has  sustained,  by  the  evil  example  or  practices  of  the 
said  neutrals,  and  that  others  may  be  deterred  on  similar  occasions  from 
acting  a  part  so  unmanly  and  ignominious, 

V.  Be  it  jurther  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  That  all  lands 
held  in  this  State  on  the  twenty-sixth  day  of  June  instant,  in  fee  simple 
or  fee  tail,  or  which  may  hereafter  be  acquired  by,  or  devised,  granted, 
or  descend  to  any  of  the  persons  who  shall  refuse  to  lake  the  aforesaid 
oath  or  affirmation  when  called  upon  by  the  said  Commissioners,  shall 
forever  thereafter,  be  charged  with  double  taxes,  in  whosesoever  hands 
the  said  lands  may  hereafter  be. 

VI.  And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  That  the 
said  Commissioners,  previous  to  the  removal  of  the  said  several  persons 
within  the  enemy's  lines,  shall  from  time  to  time  notify  the  person  ad- 
ministering the  government  for  the  time  being,  of  the  several  persons 
so  to  be  removed,  who  is  hereby  authorized  to  detain  and  confine  such 
of  the  said  persons  as  he  shall  think  proper,  for  the  purpose  of  ex- 
changing them  for  any  of  the  subjects  of  this  State,  in  the  power  of  the 
enemy. 

VII.  And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid,  Thai  the 
person  administering  the  government  of  this  Stale  for  the  time  being, 
be,  and  he  is  hereby  required  to  do  his  best  endeavors,  that  this  act  be 
fully  and  speedily  carried  into  execution,  and  all  magistrates,  sheriffs 
and  constables  are  required  to  be  aiding  therein. 


J. 

Debate  in  the  House  of  Lords,  on  the  Duke  of  Richmond's  motion 
relative  to  the  execution  of  Col.  Hayne,  at  Charleston. 

Duke  <f  Richmond.  Without  a  trial,  without  an  opportunity  of  mak- 
ing defence,  he  was  first  informed  that  a  Council  of  General  Officers  would 
assemble  the  next  day  to  try  him.  Same  evening  he  was  informed,  in- 
stead of  a  council  of  general  officers,  a  Court  of  Inquiry  composed  of 
four  general  officers  and  five  captains,  w^ould  meet  for  the  purpose  of 
determining  under  what  point  of  view  he  should  be  considered.  These 
were  sent  26th  July,  and  29tli  he  was  informed  that  in  consequence  of 
the  court  of  inquiry,  Lord  Rawdon  and  the  commander  L.  C.  Ballbur 
had  ordered  his  execution  the  31st.  On  writing  to  them  he  is  informed, 
that  he  is  not  to  sufier  in  consequence  of  the  court  of  inquiry,  but  that 
Lord  R.  and  Col.  B.  had  adjudged  him  to  death  by  powers  invested  in 


488  APPENDIX. 

them  as  Commander  of  Charleston,  and  of  the  army  in  South  Carolina. 
He  was  respited  for  forty-eight  hours,  with  a  condition,  that  if  Gen. 
Green  made  any  application  in  his  favor  the  respite  should  cease. 

Lord  Walsingham.  No  truth  in  Gen.  Green's  proclamation.  Col. 
Hayne  had  forfeited  his  oath  of  allegiance,  and  would  not  be  considered 
as  a  prisoner  of  war  to  be  exchanged  under  a  cartel — there  was  no  cartel 
subsisting.  He  had  committed  an  ofience  which  subjected  him  to  im- 
mediate execution. 

Duke  of  Manchester.  Not  warranted  by  common  law,  military  cus- 
tom, nor  any  precedent. 

Lord  Stojnnont.  A  clear  position,  that  in  time  of  war,  and  when  mar- 
tial law  prevailed,  no  person  offending  against  military  discipline  in  any 
way  whatever,  much  less  any  person  tal<en  in  arms  after  having  been 
admitted  to  his  parole,  could  be  tried  according  to  positive  municipal 
law,  but  must  be  disposed  of  according  as  the  law  of  nations,  instituted 
for  the  mutual  benefit  of  all  who  were  at  war,  should  direct.  In  the  case 
of  Col.  H.,  that  was  the  only  law  that  could  decide ;  one  established 
principle  of  which  is,  that  whenever  an  enemy  who  had  been  admitted, 
to  his  parole,  was  taken  in  arms  fighting  against  those  who  had  granted 
it  to  him,  he  was  liable  to  be  hanged  up  instanter,  v/ithout  any  trial  what- 
ever. What  tibial  could  there  be  ?  A  court  martial  could  not  be  legally 
held — the  court  mentioned  in  Mr.  Eraser's  note  was  a  court  of  inquiry 
for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  that  Col.  H.  had  been  admitted  to  his 
parole,  that  he  had  taken  the  oath  of  allegiance,  and  that  he  was  found 
in  arms. 

Lord  Shelhourne.  He  never  heard  the  doctrine  of  hanging  up  an  ene- 
my who  had  broken  his  parole,  instanter. 

Lord  Chancellor.  Upon  the  taking  of  Charleston,  he  asked  for  his 
parole  to  go  to  his  estate  ;  that  it  was  refused  him,  and  he  took  the  oath 
of  allegiance.  He  called  upon  Lord  S.  to  tell  him  in  what  book  it  was 
stated,  that  according  to  the  law  of  nature  and  nations,  (by  which  and 
which  alone  he  said  Col.  H.'s  case  could  be  judged  of.)  a  person  taken 
in  arms  after  having  broken  his  parole,  could  not  be  hanged  instanter. 
Mr.  Pocock  had  written  about  what  he  did  not  understand,  and  as  if  he 
had  never  read  the  articles  of  war — quoted  Grotius  about  hanging  up 
spies,  and  the  reason  given  was,  propter  evitandum  ccedis  occasionem. 
The  power  of  executing  spies  instanter,  was  not  de  jure  naturcc — they 
were  not  executed  dolo  malo,  but  dejure  gentium.  Col.  H.  was  war- 
rantably  executed. 

K. 

Mr.  Charles  Townshend — Lord  Chatham. 

Mr.  T.    It  is  a  peculiarity  in  your  Lordship's  history,  that  your  death 
should  have  been  hastened  by  a  vehement  exertion  of  your  talents  against 


APPENDIX.  489 

that  very  imlopcndcncy  of  the  Colonics,  ofwliich  you  laid  the  foundution 
in  the  principles  you  avowed  upon  the  repeal  of  the  Sfamp  Act.  The 
structure  you  raised  in  the  full  lustre  of  your  abilities,  was  not  to  be  de- 
molished at  a  time  when  they  were  in  their  decline.  Your  pashiou  for 
popularity  induced  you  to  foment  a  spirit,  of  which,  in  your  cooler  ino- 
mentSj  you  could  not,  or  would  not  foresee  the  fatal  tendency.  Friend  as 
you  unquestionably  was  to  the  welfare  of  your  country,  and  keen  in  the 
discernment  of  her  real  interest,  how  can  you  endure  the  reflections  of  all 
those  mischiefs  which  have  flowed,  as  from  a  copious  source,  from  your 
declaration  that  you  gloried  in  the  resistance  of  America  ? 

Mij  conduct  was  infinitely  more  consistent ;  from  the  abstract  princi- 
ples of  all  government,  from  the  nature  of  the  connection  between  the 
Parent  State  and  her  Colonies,  and  from  the  very  principles  (perverted  as 
they  have  been)  of  Mr.  Locke,  I  clearly  saw  the  absolute  and  unlimited 
supremacy  of  this  country  ov^er  its  distant  territories.  This  maxim, 
(which,  according  to  the  principles  of  an  administration  subsequent  to 
that  in  which  I  acted  a  part,  was  a  mere  dead  letter.)  I  thought  it  my 
duty  to  carry  into  practice.  The  Stamp  Act  was  its  genuine  oiTspring — 
it  was  supported  by  a  just  regard  to  the  rights  of  this  country,  over  Colo- 
nies for  whose  defence,  preservation  and  even  existence,  her  blood  and 
treasures  had  been  expended  so  copiously  ;  and  it  exacted  from  those  Co- 
lonies only  what  the  purest  motives  of  gratitude  ought  to  have  prompted 
them  spontaneously  to  have  offered,  and  therefore  cheerfully  to  have 
complied  with. 

Lord  C.    I  will  not  deny  that  I  have  ever  been  actuated  by  a  zeal 
for  popular  applause ;  but  in  pursuing,  I  have  always  studied  to  deserve 
it.     In  a  government  like  ours,  the  people  form  a  conspicuous  part,  but  I 
never  wished  to  exalt  their  importance  by  degrading  the  majesty  of  the 
throne.     I  would  have  had  their  consequence  rather  known  to  Ministers 
than  to  themselves^  and  I  have  regretted   the  necessity  I  was  under,  of 
publishing  in  the  senate  what  should  have  been  felt  in  the  closet.     The 
distinction  between  right  and  expedience,  I  considered,  when  applied  to 
the  present  question,  as  idle  and  groundless.  In  particular  instances  it  may 
be  inexpedient  to  carry  even  right  into  practice,  but  here  the  objection 
was  levelled  at  the  power  itself  in  the  abstract,  and  the  arguments  which 
proved  its  inexpedience  proved  also  that  it  had  no  existence.     Abstract 
principles,  or  such  as  had  been  formed  from  governments  not  situated  as 
ours  was,  aflected  not  this  question.     The  case  was  of  such  magnitude 
as  to  call  for  a  system  adapted  and  appropriated  to  itself.    The  Colonies 
were  growing  into  importance,  their  trade  to  this  commercial  nation  was 
the  first  object  to  be  secured.     Every  other  should  have  been  subordi- 
nate to  this,  and  speculative  reasonings  should  have  been  rejected  in  the 
competition  with  national  advantage.     The  foundation  of  American  de- 
pendence was  to  be  laid,  and  could  only  be  laid,  in  her  allections  and  in 
her  interest.    The  system  I  proposed,  would  have  equally  secured  the  ad- 

62 


490  APPENDIX. 

vantages  of  which  the  connection  was  capable,  and  have  averted  the  mis- 
chiefs to  be  dreaded  from  its  dirsolution. 

Mi\  T.  But  was  not  your  distinction  between  taxation  and  legisla- 
tion at  large  merely  chimerical,  and  w^as  not  the  separating  that  which 
was  ont;  indivisible  aggregate,  the  cause  of  the  Colonies  denying  one 
power  after  another,  until  they  reduced  almost  the  whole  legislative  code 
to  a  mere  rope  of  sand  ? 

Lord  C.  My  systems  were  practical,  not  theoretical.  I  deduced  them 
from  the  nature  of  the  subject  as  it  actually  existed,  and  considered  men 
as  they  were,  not  what  visionaries  in  their  closets  might  think  they 
ought  to  be.  Laws  were  formed  for  men,  not  men  for  laws.  I  consider- 
ed that  the  dependence  of  the  colonies  might  be  essentially  preserved 
without  the  taxing  power,  and  I  saw  that  her  w^ealth  was  pouring  into 
our  country  through  the  channels  of  commerce,  with  a  profusion  unparal- 
leled in  history.  It  was  a  pitiful  idea  to  attempt  the  drawing  a  revenue 
from  them  because  they  were  growing  opulent,  when  the  effects  of  that 
opulence  were  coming  to  us  and  enhanced  beyond  all  comparison  in  a 
different  way.  I  viewed  the  end  of  our  Colonial  connection,  and  I  adapt- 
ed the  means  to  effectuate  it.* 

L. 

Sixth  Article  of  the  definitive  Treaty  of  Peace  between  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain,  signed  3d  September,  1783,  and  ratified  by 
Congress  14th  January,  1784. 

Article  6th.  That  there  shall  be  no  future  confiscations  made,  nor 
any  prosecu+'ons  commenced  against  any  person  or  persons  for  or  by  rea- 
son of  the  part  which  he  or  they  may  have  taken  in  the  present  war  ;  and 
that  no  person  shall  on  that  account  suffer  any  future  loss  or  damage, 
either  in  his  person,  liberty,  or  property,  and  that  those  who  may  be  in 
confinement  on  such  charges,  at  the  time  of  the  ratification  of  the  treaty 
in  America,  shall  be  immediately  set  at  liberty,  and  the  prosecutions  so 
commenced  be  discontinued. 

*  The  above  is  evidently  only  a  part  of  the  original  composition,  judging 
from  the  manuscript. 


END. 


VALUABLE  &  IMPORTANT  BOOKS 

PUBLISHED    BY 

D.  APPLETON  Sc  CO., 

FOR  SALE  AT  THEIR 

LITERARY     EMPORIUM, 
200  Broadway,  New- York. 


PICTORIAL   LIFE   OF   NAPOLEON. 

History  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  translated  from  the  French  of  M.  Laurent  de  L'Ardcche,  with  fir* 
hundred  spirited  illustrations,  afterdesigns  by  Horace  Vernet,  and  twenty  original  portraits  engTa»«4 
in  the  best  style.     Complete  in  two  handsome  volumes,  octavo,  about  five  hundred  pages  each. 

This  Life  of  N.iPOLEON,  which  is  now  offKred  to  the  public,  is  built  up  and  composed  from  the  sacM 
original  authorities  as  those  consulted  by  previous  historians  and  biographers;  with  the  assistano*^ 
also,  of  the  substantive  works  of  the  latter,  and  of  all  important  works  since  published,  or  now  la 
course  of  publication.  From  careful  abstracts  and  references  ;  from  a  dispassionate  balancing  of  U^ 
single  and  collective  facts,  statements,  opinions  and  conjectural  probabilities,  occasionally  found  ki 
direct  opposition  among  authorities  of  equal  influence  and  validity,  the  author  has  sought  to  attain  a 
fixed  equilibrium  of  general  truth.  It  has  not  been  attempted  to  give  a  History  of  Fiance  in  the  stormjr 
time  of  the  Revolution,  or  in  the  successive  periods  of  the  Directory,  the  Consulate,  or  the  Empir«. 
The  violent  feelings  of  tlie  Eiig'iish  public  having  now  passed  away,  a  period  has  already  commenced  ftt 
the  exercise  of  a  temperate  judgment.  The  author  has  also  endeavoured  not  to  forestall  time,  broadb 
theories,  or  dispense  censure  or  praise.  The  deep-searching  and  far-spreading  investigations,  iittm 
■which  an  attempt  to  form  an  opinion  concerning  the  consequences  and  results  of  his  actions  would  lead, 
could  not  be  undertaken  without  a  comprehensive  study  and  voluminous  exposition  of  the  moral  aad 
political  world  and  its  various  mutations  ;  they  consequently  form  no  part  of  the  present  design. 

PICTORIAL    ROBINSON     CRUSOE. 

Tlie  Life  and  Adventures  of  Robinson  Crusoe,  by  Damel  De  Foe,  with  a  Memoir  of  the  Auth««, 
and  an  Essay  on  his  Writings,  illustrated  with  three  hundred  spirited  Engravings  by  the  celebrated 
French  artist  Grandville,  forming  one  elegant  volume,  octavo,  of  500  pages. 
"  Was  there  ever  any  thing  written  bv  mere  man  that  the  reader  wished  longer,  except  Robinson 

Crusoe,  Don  Quixottc,  and  the  Pilgrim's  ^Progress  T"—Z>r.  yoAn*on. 
"  How  hapi)y  that  this,  the  most  moral  of  romances,  is  not  only  the  most  charming  of  books,  but  th» 

mo6t  instructive." — A.  Chalmers. 

'•  No  tiction  in  any  language  was  ever  better  supported  than  these  Adventures  of  Robinson  Crusoe.* 

—Dr.  Blair. 

"  Crusoe  has  obtained  a  ready  passport  to  the  mansions  of  the  rich,  and  the  cottages  of  the  poor,  ai^ 

communicated  equal  delight  to  all  ranks  and  classes  of  the  community.     Few  works  have  been  mof« 

generally  read,  or  more  justly  admired  ;  few  that  have  yielded  such  incessant  amusement,  and,  at  the 

same  time,  have  dcehjped  so  many  lessons  of  practical  instruction." — Sir  W.  Scott. 

PICTORIAL  VICAR  OF   NA/^AKE  Fl  ELD. 

The  Vicar  of  Wakefield,  By  Oliver  Goldsmith,  elegantly  illustrated  with  109  Engravings,  making-a 

beautiful  volume,  octavo,  of  about  350  pages. 

"  This  tale  is  the  lasting  monument  of  Goldsmith's  genius,  his  great  legacy  of  pleasure  to  genera 
tions  past,  present,  and  to  come." — Examiner. 

*'  Goldsmith,  both  in  verse  and  prose,  was  one  of  the  most  delightful  writers  in  the  language.  HS 
verse  flows  like  a  limpid  stream.  His  ease  is  quite  unconscious.  Ever)-  thing  in  him  is  spoptaueou^ 
unstudied,  unaffected,  yet  elegant,  harmonious,  graceful,  and  nearly  faultless." — Hazlitt. 

GEMS    FROM    TRAVELLERS. 

Illustrative  ot  various  passages  in  Holy  Scripture,  with  nearly  one  hundred  exquisite  Engravin^a 
Among  tlie  authorities  quoted  will  be  found  the  following  distinguished  names  :  Harmcr,  Labord^ 
Lane,  Madden,  Clarke,  Pococke,  Chandler,  Malcom,  Hartley,  Russell,  Jowitt,  Carne,  Shawe,  Mo 
rier,  Neibuhr,  Bruce,  Calmet,  H.  Blunt,  Belzoni,  Lord  Lindsay,  &c.  <fec. 

This  exquisite  volume,  so  beautiful  as  an  ornament  to  the  ceni  re  table,  will  assist  to  a  clearer  percep- 
tion of  the  beauty,  propriety,  aad  truth  of  the  Holy  Scripture,  than  any  other  w.  rk  ever  published. 


3  D.  APPLETON  &  CO.'S 

INCIDENXS   OF  A   \A/HALING   VOYAGE. 

Ta  which  is  adcle<i  Observations  ■  n  the  Scenery-,  Manners,  and  Customs,  ami  Missiimary  Ststioni  «rf 
ihe  Sandv.ich  and  Society  Islands,  accompanied  by  numerous  plates.  By  Francis  Allyn  Olic 
sTKD.     One  handsome  volume,  12mo. 

The  various  publications  before  the  public,  illustrating  our  marine  and  naval  history,  have  never, 
we  believo,  as  yet  entered  into  the  minutiie  of  a  whaling  voyage — a  whale  ship,  it»  equipments,  dis* 
cipline,  and  course  of  operations  in  the  internal  economy  and  varied  contingencies, — until  the  appear* 
aace  of  the  present  volume,  by  (me  who  has  some  pretensions  to  science,  both  in  the  philosophy  of 
nature  and  education.  The  work  indeed  only  presents  the  events  of  a  single  voyage,  but  is  blended 
with  so  much  of  incidental  history,  abounding  in  facts  relative  to  the  Islands  of  the  Pacific,  the  Mis- 
•ionary  stations  there,  and  the  effects  of  civilization  up<m  the  untutored  nativesof  the  South,  together 
with  the  illustrations  cf  the  whale  fishery,  as  to  embody  a  mass  of  intelligence,  intere»tiiig  to  the 
erdiaary  reader  as  well  as  1 1  the  philosophical  inquirer.  The  author  is  a  son  of  Professor  OL-nsted, 
of  Yale  College,  who,  in  the  pursuit  of  health,  in  a  long  voyage,  has  noted  the  observations  to  which 
we  refer." — JV*.  Y.  Courier. 

MRS.    AUSTIN'S   GERMAN    WRITERS. 

FrtgTtjents  from  German  Prose  Writers,  translated  by  Mis.  Austin.     Illustrated  with  Biographical 

aud  Critical  Notes.     1  vol.  12mo,     Elegantly  printed  on  fine  white  paper. 

*'  Those  who  wish  to  close  a  book  with  the  comfortable  feeling  that  no  new  idea  has  been  suggested, 
and  no  old  one  disturbed,  will  regard  this  as  very  questionable  praise  ;  but  those  who  read  in  order  to 
be  made  to  think,  will,  I  hope,  derive  some  satisfaction  from  the  fragments  thus  thrown  together. 
The  choice  of  these  passages  has  been  determined  by  considerations  as  various  as  their  chai-acler  and 
their  subjects.  In  some  it  was  the  value  of  the  matter,  in  others  the  beauty  of  the  form  that  struck 
me  ;  in  some  the  vigorous,  unaffected  good  sense,  in  others  the  fantastic  and  mystical  charm.  Some  re- 
ealled  familiar  trains  of  thought  which  meet  us  in  a  foreign  literature  like  old  friends  in  a  fai  country, 
•ther«  altogether  new  and  strange." — Vide  Preface. 

THE    NATURAL   HISTORY   OF   SOCIETY, 

IN    THE    BARB.^ROUS    AND   CIVILIZED    STATE. 

Aa  Essar  towards  discovering  the  Origin  and  Course  of  Human  Improvement.  By  W.  CooKE  Tat- 
lOR,  LL.D.,  &c.,  of  Trinity  College,  Dublin.     Handsomely  printed  on  fine  paper.     2  vols.  12mo. 

"  A  most  able  work,  the  design  of  which  is  to  determine  from  an  examination  of  the  various  forms 
in  which  society  has  been  formed,  what  was  the  origin  of  civilization,  and  under  what  circumstances 
those  attributes  of  humanity,  which  in  one  country  become  the  foundation  of  social  happiness,  and  in 
aaoiher  peiTerted  to  the  production  of  general  misery.  For  this  purpose  the  author  has  separately 
examined  the  principal  elements  by  which  society,  under  all  its  aspects,  is  held  together,  and  traced 
each  to  its  source  in  human  nature.  He  has  then  directed  attention  to  the  development  of  these  prin- 
ciples, and  pointed  out  the  circumstances  by  which  they  were  perfected  on  the  one  hand,  or  corrupted 
on  the  other." 

"  We  perceive  hy  the  preface  that  the  work  has  had  throughout  the  superintendence  of  the  very 
learned  Archbishop  Whately." — Literary  Gazette. 

PALMER'S  TREATISE  ON   THE  CHURCH. 

A  Tkeatise  on  the  Church  of  Christ.  Designed  chiefly  for  the  use  of  Students  in  Theology 
By  the  Rev.  W^ilham  Palmer,  M.  A.,  of  Worcester  College,  Oxford.  Edited,  with  Notes,  by  the 
Right  Rev.  W.  R.  Whittingham,  D.D.,  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  Dioces* 
of  Marj'land.    2  vols.  8vo.,  handsomely  printed  on  fine  paper. 

"  The  treatise  of  Mr.  Palmer  is  the  best  exposition  and  vindication  of  Church  Principles,  that  we 
have  ever  read  ;  excelling  contemporaneous  treatises  in  depth  of  learning  and  solidity  of -judgment  as 
much  as  it  excels  older  treatises  on  the  like  subjects  in  adaptation  to  the  wants  and  habits  of  the  age. 
Of  its  influence  in  England,  where  it  has  passed  through  two  editions,  we  have  not  the  means  to  form 
an  opinion  ;  but  we  believe  that  in  this  country  it  has  already,  even  before  its  reprint,  done  more  to 
reitore  the  sound  tone  of  Catholic  principle  and  feeling  than  any  other  one  work  of  the  age.  The  author's 
learning  nnd  powers  of  combination  and  arrangement,  great  as  they  obviously  are,  are  less  remarkable 
than  the  sterling  good  sense,  the  vigorous  and  solid  judgment,  which  is  everywhere  manifest  in  the 
treatise,  and  ccmfcrs  on  it  its  distinctive  excellence.  The  style  of  the  author  is  distinguished  for  dig 
nity  and  masculine  energy,  while  his  tone  is  ever)where  natural ;  on  proper  occasions,  reverential  • 
ana  always,  ao  far  as  we  remember,  sufficiently  conciliatory. 

"  To  our  clergy  and  intelligent  laity  who  desire  to  see  the  Church  justly  discriminated  from  Roman- 
iat«  on  the  one  hand,  and  dissenting  denominations  on  the  other,  we  earnestly  commend  Palmer's 
Treatise  on  the  Church."— iV.  Y.  Churchman. 

HARE'S    PAROCHIAL    SERMONS. 

Sermocs  to  a  Country  Congregation.     By  Augustus  William  Hare,  A.M.  late  Fellow  of  New  Co/iege, 

and  Rector  of  -\Jton  Barnes.     1  vol.  royal  8vo. 

"  Any  imo  who  cxn  he  pleased  with  delicacy  of  thought  expressed  in  the  most  simple  language — 
any  one  who  can  feel  the  charm  of  finding  jiractical  duties  elucidated  and  enforced  by  apt  and  varied 
iliustrations- will  bo  delighted  with  this  volume,  which  presents  us  with  the  workings  of  a  pious  and 
Wi^ily-gifted  mind." — Quarterly  Review. 


VALUABLE  PUBLICATIONS.  S 

MAGEE   ON    ATONEMENT  AND   SACRIFICE. 

Discourses  and  Disistrtaluiiis  on  l)i<;  S(-n|itiiraJ  D(M:lruiitfi  of  Atunoiiieiit  and  SacriAce,  aad  oa  the  Pniv 
cipal  Arguments  advanced,  aod  the  Mude  of  Reasoning  employed  \ty  the  Opponenlft  Cif  thoie  dr^v 
trines,  as  held  by  ihc  Esi;»l)Iish<'d  (Jhurch.  By  the  late  Moet  Rev.  William  Mageo,  D.D.,  Archbiihof 
of  Dublin.     2  vc»ls.  royal  8vo.,  beautifully  printed. 

"Tins  is  one  of  the  ablest  c:itical  and  polemical  works  of  modern  timet.  Archbishop  Magee  n 
truly  a  mallrus  liereticulum.  lie  is  an  excellent  scholar,  an  a(!ute  reasoner,  and  is  pobscss«d  of  a  moet 
eitensivf  acciuamtance  with  the  wide  Ireld  of  argument  to  which  his  volumes  are  devoted — the  pro- 
fiiuiul  Hiblical  iiifoniiation  on  a  vanity  of  tojucs  which  the  Archbishop  brings  forward,  jnast  endear 
his  uaine  to  all  lovers  of  Chnstiaaiiy.'' — Omie. 


DEVOTIONAL    LIBRARY. 

The  greatest  care  is  taken  in  selecting  the  works  of  wliicli  this  collection  is  com- 
posed. Each  volume  is  printed  on  the  finest  paper,  elegantly  ornamented,  and 
bound  in  a  superior  manner,  and  unifoirn  in  size.  Bishop  Doane  says  of  this 
collection,  "  I  write  to  express  my  thanks  to  you  for  rcprintb  of  the  Oxford 
Books ;  first,  for  such  books,  and  secondly,  in  such  a  style.  I  bincercly  hope 
you  may  bo  encouraged  to  go  on,  and  give  them  all  to  us.  You  will  di^iiify  the 
art  of  printing,  and  you  will  do  great  service  to  the  best  interest  of  the  country. 
In  a  letter  received  from  Bishop  "Whittingham,  he  says,  *'  I  had  forgotten  t-o 
state  my  very  great  satiifaction  at  your  commencement  of  a  series  of  Devo 
tional  Works,  lately  republished  in  Oxford."  The  publishers  beg  to  state  while 
in  so  short  a  time  this  hbrary  has  increased  to  so  many  volumes,  they  are  encou- 
raged  to  make  yet  larger  additions,  and  earnestly  hope  it  may  receive  all  the 
encouragement  it  deserves. 

The  foUowiug  volumes  have  already  appeared: 
THE   EARLY   ENGLISH   CHURCH. 

Or  Christian  History  of  En;?land  in  early  British,  Saxon,  and  Norman  Tinies.  By  the  Rev.  Edward 
Churton,  M.A.     With  a  Preface  by  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Ives.     J  vol.  IGmo.  elegantly  oruamentad 

LEARN   TO  DIE. 

Disce  Mori,  Learn  to  Die  :  aRelig'ions  Discourse,  movinor  every  Christian  man  to  enter  into  a  serrous 
Remembrance  of  his  End.  By  Christopher  Sutton,  D.D.,  late  Prebend  of  \Vesimjn&u.r.  1  v.->l. 
16mo.,  elegantly  oniameuted. 

SACRA   PRIVATA: 

The  Private  Meditations,  Devotions,  and  Prayers  of  the  Ri;^ht  Rev.  T.  Wilson,  D.D.,  Lord  Bishop  of 
Soder  arid  Man.     First  complete  edition.     1  vol.  royal  IGmo.,  elegantly  ornamented. 

MEDITATIONS   ON   THE   SACRAMENT. 

Gi>dly  Medit:ition.s  upon  the  most  Holy  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  By  Chnstorher  Sutton, 
D.I).,  late  Prebend  of  Westminster.     1  vol.  royal  16ino.,  elegantly  ornaaieuted. 

HEART'S    EASE; 

Or  a  Remedy  against  all  Troubles, 
WITH   A    CONSOLATORY   DISCOURSE, 
particularly  addressed  to  those  who  have  lost  their  friends  and  dear  relations.     By  Sj"nion  Patrick, 
D.D.,  sometime  Lord  Bishop  of  Ely.     1  vol.  royal  16mo.,  elegantly  ornamented. 

A    DISCOURSE  CONCERNING    PRAYER 

And  the  frequenting  Daily  Public  Prayers.  By  Symou  Patrick,  D.D.,  s.)metimo  Lord  Bishop  of  Ely 
Edited  by  Franoi.s  E.  Paget,  M.A.,  Chaplain  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Oxford.  I  vol.  royal  ICmo.,  ela- 
ganily  ornamented. 

THOUGHTS    IN    PAST  YEARS. 

A  beautiful  collection  of  Poetry,  chiefly  Devotional.  By  the  Author  of  "nie  Cathtjdial.^  I  toI 
royal  16mo.,  elegantly  printed. 


*** 


These  volumes  will  be  followed  by  others  of  equal  importance. 


4  V.  APFLETON  &  GO'S 

SCHLEGEL^S   PHILOSOPHY    OF   HISTORV. 

The  Philosophy  of  History,  in  a  course  of  Lectures  delivered  at  Vienna,  by  Fredehick  von  SchxC- 
•  KL,  translated  from  the  German,  with  a  Memoir  of  the  Author,  by  J.  B.  Robertson.  Handsomely 
iwintcd  on  fine  paper.     2  vols.  I2iiio. 

"A  masterly  production — written  in  that  flowing,  elegant  style,  so  characteristic  of  the  German 
ncbool.  In  fact,  dilig-ent  investigation,  aclcura■^e  discernment,  sound  judgment  and  eleg'ant  taste,  will 
be  found  employed  in  every  page.  Our  readers  may  rely  upon  our  wuid  that  a  perusal  of  these  pages 
wiU  yield  them  an  ample  harvest  of  pleasme  aivd  advantage."—  Quarterly  Reiiete. 

THE   LIFE  OF  ALEXANDER   HAISAILTON. 

Edited  by  his  son,  John  C.  Hamilton.     2  vals.  royal  8vo. 
"Wo  cordially  recommend  the  perusal  and  diligent  study  of  these  volumes,  e.xhibiting,  as  they  do, 
B»uoh  valuable  matter  relative  to  the  Revolution,  the  establisliinent  of  the  Federal  Constitution,  &ad 
»th«r  important  events  in  the  annals  of  our  country." — New-York  Review. 

THE    METROPOLITAN    PULPIT; 

Or  Sketches  of  the  most  Popular  Preachers  m  Loudon.  By  the  author  of  Random  Recollection*,  Th» 
Great  Metropolis,  &c.  &c.     1  vol.  12mo. 

CARLYLE    ON    HISTORY    AND    HEROES. 

9*  Heroes,  Hero- Worship,  and  the  Heroic  in  History.  Six  Lectures,  reported  with  Emendations. anfi 
Additions,  by  Tlwinas  Carlyle,  Author  of  the  French  Revolution,  Sartor  Resartus,  &c.  Elegantly 
printed  in  1  vol.  12mo. 

"  A  masterly  production. — Even  the  single  lecture  to  which  we  shall  eonfin*  our  office,  is,  we  feel, 
s  greater  theme  than  can  be  sufficiently  illustrated  at  our  hands.  We  have  elsewhere  noticed  a  new 
edition  of  Sartor  Resartus,  by  the  same  author.  It  is  a  very  remarkable  work,  though  we  must  con- 
fess somevv-hat  too  German  and  transcendental  for  our  taste.  We  rejoice  to  say  that  we  find  no  such 
■iiflSculties  besetting  us  in  these  disquisitions  on  heroes.  They  are  in  truth  philosophical  enough, 
abrupt  enough,  tearing  enough  ;  but  their  philosophy  is  dear,  distinct,  and  intelligible  ;  their  abrupt- 
ness is  the  vigor  of  Demosthenes  ;  their  tearing  the  acts  of  a  giant  who  has  a  wilderness  to  hur»t 
tlirough  and  open  to  the  rest  of  mankind." — Literary  Gazette. 

GUIZOT'S    HISTORY   OF  CIVILIZATION. 

Wdneral  History  of  Civilization  in  Europe,  from  the  Fall  of  the  Roman  Empire  to  the  French  Rcvo- 
hition.  Translated  from  the  French  of  M.  Guizot,  Professor  of  History  to  la  Faculte  des  Lettre* 
cf  Paris,  and  Minister  of  Public  Instruction.  2d  American,  from  the  last  London  edition.  1  voi. 
l2mo. 

"  We  hail  with  pleasure  the  republication  of  this  able  work.  It  is  terse  and  full,  and  adverti  to 
tile  most  interesting  topic  in  the  social  lelations  of  mankind,  the  progressive  improvement  of  the  Eu- 
ropean nations  from  tbe  overthrow  of  the  Roman  Empire  by  the  Goths,  and  Huns,  and  Vandals,  iu  thft 
FJth  Century." — N.  Y.  American. 

SOUTHEY'S   POETICAL  WORKS. 

1  >»e  Complete  Poetical  Works  of  Robert  Southey,  Esq.  LL.D.  The  ten  volume  London  edition  i& 
one  elegant  royal  8vo.  volume,  with  a  fine  portrait  and  vignette. 

*»*  This  edition,  which  the  author  has  avranged  and  revised  with  the  same  care  as  if  it  were  ii*- 
twnded  for  posthumous  publication,  includes  many  pieces  which  either  have  never  before  been  collect- 
e4,  or  have  hitherto  remained  unpublished. 

Preliminaiy  notices  are  affixed  to  the  long  poems, — the  whole  of  the  notes  retained, — and  sucii 
•Uitional  ones  incorporated  as  the  author,  since  the  first  publication,  has  seen  occasion  to  insert 

Contents : 
Joan  of  Arc.  The  Curse  of  Kehama. 

Juvenile  and  Minor  Poehs.  Roderick  the  last  of  the  Goths 

Thalaba  the  Destroyer.  The  Poet's  Pilgrimage  to  WatkbloO. 

Madoc.  Lay  of  the  Laureate. 

Ballads  and  Metrical  Tales.  Vision  of  Judgment,  &c. 

"At  the  age  of  sixty-three  I  have  undertaken  to  collect  and  edit  my  poetical  works,  with  the  last 
norrections  that   I   can  expect   to  bestow  upon  them.     They  have  obtained  a  reputation  equal  to  my 

wshes Thus  to  collect  and  revise  them  is  a  duty  which  I  owe  to  that  part  of  the  public  by  whom 

r^ey  have  been  auspiciously  received,   and  to  those  who  will  take  a  lively  concern  in  my  good  nam» 
when  I  shall  have  departed." — Extract  from  Author's  Preface. 

"  The  critic  has  little  to  do  but  to  point  out  the  existence  of  the  work,  the  beauty  of  the  type  and 
•  mbellishments,  and  the  cheapness  of  the  cost  ;  the   public  has  long  ago  acknowledged  its  merit  and 

established  its  reputation The  author  of  the  'Life  of  Nelson'   must  live  as  long  as  our  history 

and  language  endure.     There  is  no  man  to  whom  the  latter  owes  a  greater  obligation — no  man  wba 
Ii.a3  done  more  for  literature  by  his  genius,  his  labours,  and  his  life." — Times. 

"  We  are  very  glad  to  see  the  works  of  a  poet,  for  whom  we  have  always  felt  the  warmest  admira- 
tion, collected,  and  in  a  shade  which  will  ensure  their  popularity." — Literary  Gazette. 

"  Southey's  principal  poetical  works  have  been  long  before  the  world,  extensively  read  aud  highlj 


VALUABLE  PUBLICATIONS.  5 

apprccmtcd.     Tlieir  nppearance  in  a  neat  and  uniform  edition,  with  tl)e  final  corrcctJonB  of  the  tulhor 
will  afford  unf(!l^'Ilod  pleasure  to  those  who  lire  '  niairied  to  miiiiortal  verse.'" — Atfunanun. 

*'  Tlie  beauties  of  Mr.  Southey's  poetry  are  such  tliat  this  edition  can  hardly  fail  to  &xul  a  plaoe  ia 
the  library  of  every  man  fond  of  elef^aiit  literature." — Kclertic  Rrvie^u. 

SCRIPTURE   AND   GEOLOGY. 

On  the  Relation  between  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  some  parts  of  Geological  Science.  By  JoHW 
Pye  Smith,  D.D.,  author  of  the  Scripture  Testimony  of  the  Messiah,  <fec.  Ac.  1  vol.  12mo. 
"  The  volume  consists  of  eiglit  lectures,  to  which  are  appended  seventy  pages  of  supplementary- 
notes.  The  first  lecture  is  iiitro<iutt()ry  ;  the  second  is  scieutilically  descriptive  of  the  principal  toni«'»» 
of  geological  science  ;  the  third  includes  a  research  into  the  creation  of  our  globe  ;  the  fourth  and  nflK 
lectures  comprise  an  examination  of  the  deluge  ;  the  sixth  discusses  the  apparent  dissonance  between 
the  decisions  of  geologists,  and  the  hitherto  received  intei7)retation  of  Scripture,  with  an  additional 
exposition  of  the  diluvial  theory  ;  the  seventh  is  devoted  to  illustration  of  the  method  V)  interpret  the 
Scriptuios,  so  thai  they  may  harmonize  with  the  discoveries  of  geology  ;  the  eighth  is  Itm  peroratioa 
of  tke  whole  disquisition  " 

TOUR   THROUGH    TURKEY   AND   PERSIA. 

Narrative  of  a  Tour  through  Armenia,  Kurdistan,  Persia,  and  Mesopotamia,  with  an  Introduction  nxA 
Occasional  Observations  upon  the  Condition  of  Mohammedanism  and  Christianity  in  those  counlricn 
By  the  Rev.  Horatio  Soutiioate,  Missionary  of  the  American  Episcopal  Church.  2  vols.  12rao^ 
plates. 

"  An  exceedingly  interesting  book  of  travels,  which  no  reader  will  be  very  likely  to  lay  by /or  gx>od 
till  he  has  seen  the  end  of  it.  It  contains  a  vast  amount  of  infonnation,  religious  and  general,  and  w 
written  in  a  style  of  perfect  ease  and  simplicity.  It  deserves,  and  we  doubt  not  will  gain,  an  extensive 
oirculation." — Albany  Advertiser. 

SCOTLAND  AND  THE  SCOTCH. 

Or  the  Western  Circuit. 
By  Catherine  Sinclair,  author  of  Modern  Accomplishments,  Modem  Society,  dec.  &c.    1  vol.  12mo 

SHETLAND  AND  THE  SHETLANDERS. 

Or  the  Northern  Circvdt. 
By  Catherine  Sinclair,  author  of  Scotland  and  the  Scotch,  Holiday  House,  etc.  &c.  1  vol.  12mo. 
"  Miss  Sinclair  has  already  proved  herself  to  be  a  lady  of  high  talent  and  rich  cultivated  mind.  She 
thinks  with  precision  and  vigor,  and  she  possesses  the  quality  of  seizing  the  objects  of  her  thoughts  ia 
the  right  place  and  at  the  proper  time,  and  of  presenting  them  to  the  mind's  eye  of  her  readers  m  the 
most  clear  and  captivating  light.  Her  style  is  characteristic  of  her  mind,  transparent,  piquant,  and 
Lvely,  yet  sustained  by  pure,  moral  and  religious  feeling." — New-York  American. 

LIMITATIONS   OF    HUMAN    RESPONSIBILITY. 

By  Francis  Wayland,  D  D.    2d  edition.  1  vol.  Idmo. 

THE    FLAG   SHIP; 

Or  a  Voyage  round  the  World, 
In  the  United  States  Frigate  Columbia,  attended  by  her  consort,  the  Sloop  of  War  John  Adams,  and 

bearing  the  broad  pennant  of  Commodore  George  C.  Read.     By  Fitch  W.  Taylok,  Chaplain  totlw} 

Squadron.     2  vols.  12mo.,  plates. 

"  This  work  has  been  some  time  before  the  public  ;  but  if  in  consequence  of  onr  late  notice,  it  shaH 
afford  to  any  reader  the  very  great  pleasure  and  profit  which  its  perusal  has  given  us,  we  ace  sure  ho 
will  thiniv  it  better  late  than  never.  The  records  of  a  voyage  around  the  world,  made  by  a  man,  vfho^ 
in  mingling  with  the  various  and  wonderful  scenes  it  must  present,  has  had  his  eyes  open,  could  not 
fail  to  be  interesting.  Facts  and  real  occurrences,  are  things  of  which  we  never  grow  weary.  But 
this  work  has  a  far  higher  claim  to  regard.  Its  literary  character  is  certainly  very  respectable,  and  tho 
benevolent  spirit  and  Christian  interest  with  which  the  varied  incidents  of  a  visit  to  almost  every  na- 
tion on  the  globe  were  regarded,  give  the  book  an  unwonted  value.  The  abilility  to  survey  the  moral 
aspects  of  the  world,  is  a  qualification  of  which  the  far  greater  part  of  travellers  are  utterly  deficient. 
Probably  since  the  valuable  journal  of  Tyerman,  and  Bennett,  there  has  betn  no  other  one  published 
which  exhibits  so  satisfactory  a  view  of  the  Christian  missions  of  the  world  as  this.  We  think  it  adapt«l 
to  interest  its  readers  not  only,  but  greatly  to  instruct  them,  and  especially  to  awaken  a  deep  and 
lively  sympathy  for  the  moral  wants  and  miseries  of  the  world." — Evanfftli^t. 

WORKS   BY  ISAAC  TAYLOR. 

HOME    EDUCATION. 

By  Isaac  Taylor,  author  of"  Natural  History  of  Enthusiasm,'"  etc.  «fcc.     Second  editica. 

1  vol.  12ino. 

In  this  volume  the  general  principlea  of  Education,  as  applicable  to  private  f;unille8  and  to  smaH 
schools,  are  stated  and  explained  ;  suchnwthods  of  treatment,  especially,  being  suggested,  as  nr    best 


6  V.  APPLETON  &  CO.'S 

salted  to  the  cimnmstances  of  a  country  residence  ;  at  the  same  time,  liints  are  offered  of  a  kind  to  b« 
available  under  any  circumstances  for  carrj-ing  on  the  culture  of  those  of  the  intellectual  faculties  that 
are  the  earliest  developed,  and  on  the  due  expansion  of  which  the  force  and  efficiency  of  the  mature 
mind  depend. 

•'  A  yerj'  enlightened,  just,  and  Christian  xiew  of  a  most  important  subject." — American  Bib.  Rep. 

SPIRITUAL   CHRISTIANITY. 

Lectures  on  Spiritual  Cliristianity.     By  Isaac  Taylor,  author  of  "  Spiritual  Despotism,"  <fcc.  &c. 

1  vol.  ]2mo, 

"This  work  is  the  production  of  one  of  the  most  gifted  and  accomplished  minds  of  the  present  age. 
If  some  of  his  former  productions  may  have  been  thuught  characterized  by  too  much  of  metaphysical 
abstraction,  and  in  some  instances,  by  speculations  of  doubtful  importance,  the  present  volume  is,  we 
thmk,  in  no  degree  liable  to  this  objection.  It  is  indeed  distinguished  for  deep  thought  and  accurate 
discrimination  ;  and  whoever  would  read  it  to  advantage,  must  task  his  faculties  in  a  much  higher  de- 
gree than  in  reading  ordinary  books  ;  and  yet  it  contains  nothing  which  an  ordinary  degree  of  intelli- 
gence and  application  may  not  readily  comprehend.  The  view  which  it  gives  of  Christianity,  both  as 
a  •fstem  of  truth  and  a  system  of  duty,  is  in  the  highest  degree  instructive  ;  and  its  tendencies  are 
not  less  to  quicken  the  intellectual  faculties,  than  to  direct  and  elevate  the  moral  sensibilities.  We 
hare  no  doubt  that  it  will  be  read  with  great  interest  by  those  who  read  to  fmd  materials  for  thought, 
and  that  it  is  destined  to  exert  a  most  important  influence,  especially  on  the  more  intellectual clussea, 
ki  the  advancement  of  the  interests  of  truth  and  piety." — Albany  Evening  Journal. 

PHYSICAL  THEORY   OF  ANOTHER    LIFE. 

27  Isaae  Taylor,  author  of  "  Natural  History  of  Enthusiasm."     Third  edition*. 

I  vol.  12mo. 


MINIATURE  CLASSICAL  LIBRARY. 

Great  pains  have  been  bestowed  in  the   selection  of  this  unique   Library  ;    it  will 

comprise  the  best  works  of  our  venerated  authors,  published  in  an  elegant  form, 

with   a  beautiful  frontispiece,    tastefully  ornamented.     The  following  are   now 

ready ; 

GOLDSMITH.— Essays.    By  OUver  Goldsmith. 

GOLDSMTTH.— The  Vicar  of  Wakefield.    By  Oliver  Goldamith. 

JOHNSON.— The  History  of   Rasselas,   Prince  of  Abyssinia,  a  Tale.     By  Samu^ 
Johnson,  LL.D. 

OOTTIN.— Elizabeth ;  or,  the  Exiles  of  Siberia.    By  Madame  Cottiji. 
The  extensive  popularity  of  this  little  talo  is  well  known. 

TOBIEN  of  Affection.    Do.  of  Friendship.    Do.  of  Remembrance. 

Each  volume  consists  of  appropriate  poetical  extracts  from  the  best  writers  of  the  day. 

PUBE  GOLD  from  the  Rivers  of  Wisdom.— A  collection  of  short  extracts  on  Religlou* 
subjects  from  the  older  writers,  Bishop  Ilal!,  Sherlock,  Banow,  Paley,  Jeremy  Taylor,  &c. 

ST,  PIEERE.— Paul  and  Virginia.    From  the  French  of  J.  B.  H.  De  St.  Pierre, 
*^*  These  volumes  will  be  followed  by  others  of  attested  merit. 


EVENINGS   WITH   THE  CHRONICLERS; 

Or,  Uncle  Rupert's  Tales  of  Chivalry, 

By  R.  M.  Evans.     With  many  illustrations.     1  vol.  16mo.,  elfegantly  bound. 

"  This  would  have  been  a  volume  after  our  own  hearts,  while  we  were  younger,  and  it  is  scarcely 
>es>  80  now  when  we  are  somewhat  older.  It  discourses  of  those  things  which  charmed  all  of  us  in 
early  youth.  The  daring  dfieds  of  the  Knights  and  Squires  of  feudal  warfare.  The  true  version  of 
the  "Chevy  Chase,"  the  exploits  of  the  stout  and  stalwart  Warriors  of  Eni^land,  Scotland  and  Ger- 
many. In  a  word,  it  is  an  attractive  book,  and  rendered  more  so  to  young  readers  by  a  series  of  wood 
engravings,  beautifully  executed,  illustrating  the  letter-press  descriptions.  There  are  seventeen  of 
tboM  plates  in  the  volume,  and  the  whole  book  is  so  excellently  printed,  and  upon  such  good  paper, 
^i«t  it  is  in  all  respect*  valuable." — Courier  ^  Enquirer- 


VALUABLE  PUBLICATIONS.  7 

APPLETON'S    TALES    FOR    THE    PEOPLE     AND 

THEIR    CHILDREN, 

TIic  j2;roatcst  care  is  taknii  in  sclcctintj  the  works  of  wliicli  the  collection  is  com- 
j)osfd,  so  that  iiotliintr  eiliicr  mediocre  in  t,*l('nt,  or  iniinoral  in  tendency,  is  ad- 
mitted.    Each  volume  is  printed  on  the  finest  j)aper,   is  illustrated  with  an  clo 
gant  frontispiece,  and  is  bound  in  a  superior  manner,  tastefully  ornamented. 
The  following  have  already  appeared,  uniform  in  size  and  style : 

THE  POPLAR  GROVE ; 

Or,  Little  Harry  and  his  Uncle  Benjamin.     By  Mrs.  Oopley,  author  of  "  Early  Friendship," 
&c.  &C.     1  vol.  I81110.,  beuutilal  rroiitispiece. 

"An  eitcelient  little  story  this,  showing  how  sound  sense,  honest  principles,  and  intelligent  indus- 
try, not  only  advimce  their  possessor,  but,  as  in  the  case  of  Uncle  Benjamin  the  gardener,  enable  hiru 
to  become  the  benefactor,  s:in(l(.',  and  friend  of  relations  cast  down  from  a  loftier  sphere  in  life,  and, 
but  for  him,  without  resource, 

"  It  is  a  tale  for  youth  of  all  classes,  that  c.innot  l)e  read  without  profit." — N.Y.  American. 

EARLY  FRIENDSHIP. 
By  Mrs.  Copley.      1  vol.  18mo.,  plates. 

"  A  charming  little  book  this  for  young  girls — good  counsel  conveyed  in  the  language  of  affection, 
and  with  all  the  attraction  of  an  interesting  sUn'V.  It  is  a  series  of  admonitions  about  the  girlish  friend- 
ships formed  at  school — sometimes  so  injudicious,  often  so  influential  in  the  formation  of  character.'* 
— iY.y.  American. 

THE  TWO  DEFAULTERS; 
Or,  a  Picture  of  the  Times.     By  Mrs.  Griffith  (of  New- York.) 
"A  most  interesting  little  volume,  not  excelled  by  any  one  of  the  series." 

MASTERMAN  READY ; 
Or,  the  Wreck  of  the  Pacific.    Written  for  Young  Persons,  by  Capt.  Marryat.     1  vol.  ISmo 
frontispiece. 

"  We  have  never  seen  any  thing  from  the  same  pen  we  like  as  well  as  this.  The  Captain  had  pro 
niised  his  children  to  write  a  story  for  them,  and  undertook  in  consequence  to  continue  the  Swiss  Ro- 
binson Crusoe  ;  but  on  application  to  the  work,  soon  discovered  it  would  be  easier  and  more  useful  to 
those  for  whom  he  was  writing,  to  strike  out  into  an  entirely  new  story.  lie  has  done  so  most  suc- 
cessfully. It  is  still  the  tale  of  shipwreck  and  desolate  island,  and  Masterman  Ready  is  the  personifi- 
cntion  of  all  the  practical  talents  and  available  shifts  which  much  knocking  about  in  the  world  teaches 
to  some — not  all— men.  There  is,  moreover,  much  and  accurate  knowledge  displayed  throughout, 
communicated  in  a  way  to  be  bt)th  intelligil)le  and  attractive  to  youthful  minds,  and  we  cannot  better 
concluda  our  notice  of  it,  than  by  repeating  the  exclamation  of  a  clever  boy,  as  he  finished  the  book, — 
*  Well,  I  am  so  glad  it  is  to  be  cjntinued.'" — N.Y.  American. 

THE  PEASANT  AND  THE  PRINCE. 
By  Harriet  Martineau.    1  vol.  18mo. 

"  The  versatile  talent  of  Miss  Martineau  has  been  employed  of  late  ia  preparing  for  the  people  and 
their  children  a  most  inviting  little  history  of  Louis  Sixteenth  and  his  family.  Here,  in  a  style  even 
more  familiar  than  Scott's  Tales  of  a  Grandfather,  we  have  a  graphic  epitome  of  many  facts  connected 
with  the  days  of  the  '  Revolution,'  wiiich  will  eclipse  any  of  the  fictitious  tales  now  in  vogue.  Roy 
alty  is  set  before  the  young  mind  in  a  manner  v.hirli  will  preclude  any  farther  misconceptions  as  to 
the  amount  of  happiness  distributed  between  the  'Prince'  and  the  'Peasant,'  and  the  effort  of  the 
author  to  secure  in  early  life  the  ascendancy  of  the  reflective  and  reasoning  powers  over  the  imagina- 
tion, will,  we  doubt  not,  be  successful." — J^.Y.  Courier. 

THE    SETTLERS    AT    HOME. 
By  Harriet  Martineau.  1  vol.  ISmo. 

"  The  circumstances  under  which  this  little  volume,  for  the  anmsement  of  children,  has  been  pro- 
duced, give  an  additi(mal  charm  to  its  truth,  simplicity,  and  feeling.  The  tale,  though  in  one  passage 
sorrowful  enough  to  moisten  many  a  pair  of  eyes,  is  full  of  interest  and  character.  The  latter,  we  may 
add,  is  as  much  appreciated  by  children  as  the  former  ;  and  they  will  take  as  lively  .an  interest  in  Ail 
win's  ignorant  and  unselfish  fidelity  and  her  stalwart  arms,  and  in  Roger  Redfurn  the  gipsy  bor's 
gleams  of  better  nature,  as  in  the  development  of  the  main  incident  of  the  book,  a  most  disastrous 
flood  which  spread  devastation  over  the  Isle  of  .^.xholme  two  hundred  years  ago." — Athenccum. 

WHO  SHALL  BE  GREATEST? 

A  Tale.    By  Mary  Howitt,     1  vol.  iSmo.,  plates. 

**  The  great  moral  lesson  inculcated  by  this  book  is  indicated  by  its  title  ;  and  while  it  is  prominoat 


8  D.  APPLETON  &-  CO.'S 

enough  through  the  whole  volume,  it  comes  out  at  the  close  with  most  impressive  eifsct.  We  neeJ 
not  say  it  is  a  lesson  which  every  human  being  is  the  wiser  and  the  better  for  learning.  We  cordially 
recommend  the  work  to  all  who  would  desire  to  form  a  sober  and  rational  estimate  of  the  world's  en- 
joyments."— Albany  Evening  Journal. 

SOWING  AND  REAPING  ; 
Or,  What  will  come  of  it  ?    By  Mary  Howitt.     1  vol.  18mo.,  plates. 
"We  commenced  it  with  the  intention  nf  just  looking  it  over  for  the  pur))ose  of  writing  a  cursory 
notice  ;  but  we  began  to  read,  and  so  we  went  on  to  the  finis.     It  is  very  interesting  ;    the  character's 
are  full  of  individuality." — JVeio  Bedford  Mercury, 

STRIVE  AND  THRIVE : 
A  Tale.    By  Mary  Howitt.     1  vol.  18mo.,  plates. 

"  Th«  mere  announcement  of  the  name  of  the  authoress,  will  doubtless  bring  any  of  her  productions 
to  the  immediate  notice  of  the  puiilic  ;  but  Strive  and  Thrive  is  not  a  book  for  children  only,  but  can  be 
-<^ad  with  pleasure  and  advantage  by  those  of  a  more  mature  age.  It  fully  sustains  the  reputation  of 
Its  predecessors.  The  style  is  easy  and  flowing,  the  language  chaste  and  beautiful,  and  the  incidents 
of  the  tale  calculated  to  keep  up  the  interest  to  the  end." — N.Y.  Courier  6f  Enquirer. 

HOPE  ON,  HOPE  EVER ; 
Or,  the  Boyhood  of  Felix  Law.     By  Mary  Howitt.     1  vol.  ISrao. 
"  A  very  neat  volume  with  tba  above  title,  and  the  farther  annunciation  that  it  may  be  called  Taks 
for  the  People  and  their  Children,  has  been  written  by  Mary  Howitt,  whose  name  is  so  favoui-ably 
known  to  the  reading  community. 

"  This  volume,  like  all  others  that  emanate  from  the  pen  of  this  lady  is  extremely  interesting  :  the 
characters  are  naturally  drawn,  while  the  feeling  and  passion  displayed,  ^.\b  the  work  a  higher  rank 
than  is  usually  allotted  to  nursery  tales." — Commercial  Advertiser. 

THE  LOOKING-GLASS  FOR  THE  MIND ; 
Or,  Intellectual  Mirror,  being  an  elegant  collection  of  the  most  delightftil  little  stories  and 
interesting  tales  :  chiefly  translated  from  that  mnch  admired  work  L'ami  des  Enfans;  with 
numerous  wood  cuts.     The  twentieth  edition.     1  vol.  18mo. 

"The  stories  here  collected  are  of  a  most  interesting  character,  since  virtue  is  constantly  represented 
as  the  fountain  of  happiness,  and  vice  <is  the  source  of  every  evil :  as  a  useful  and  instructive  Looking 
glass,  we  recommend  it  for  the  instruction  of  every  youth,  whether  Miss  or  Master  ;  it  is  a  mirror  that 
will  not  flatter  them,  or  lead  them  into  error  ;  it  displays  the  follies  and  improper  pursuits  of  youthful 
hearts,  points  out  the  dangerous  paths  they  sometimes  tread,  and  clears  the  way  to  the  temple  of 
honour  and  fame. 

DINING    OUT. 
Together  with  Confessions  of  a  Maniac.    By  Mrs.  EUis,  author  of  "  Women  of  England," 

&o.     1  vol.  18mo. 

"  The  tendency  of  this  little  book  is  one  of  the  best  and  noblest.  The  scenes  and  characters  are,  it 
is  believed,  portraits,  aiming,  as  it  does,  at  the  correction  of  a  too  prevalent  vice.  It  is  expected  that  it 
will  command,  among  the  serious  and  thinking  part  of  the  community,  as  extensive  a  popularity  as 
'Nicholas  Nickleby,'  in  its  peculiar  circle." 

SOMERVILLE  HALL.     To  which  is  added,  RISING  TIDE. 
By  Mrs.  Ellis.     1  vol.  18mo. 
'  This  little  book  has  much  to  recommend  itself.     It  contains  an  interesting  and  lesson-teaching  tale, 
which  cannot  fail  to  impress  its  prominent  features  on  many  a  breast." 

*^*  It  is  intended  to  include  in  this  series  some  of  the  best  works  in  our  language. 


A  GIFT    FROM    FAIRY    LAND. 

By  J.  K.  Paulding,  Esq.     Illustrated  with  one  hundred  unique  original  plates  by  Chapman  ;  elegantly 

bound.     I  vol.  i2mo. 

P  AST     DAYS: 

A  Story  for  Children.     By  Esther  Whitlock..    Square  18mo. 

"  It  is  a  delightful,  instructive  little  book  ;  and  if  the  child,  when  she  closes  the  volume,  find  her 
eyes  'red  with  weeping,'  let  her  not  be  ashamed;  one  old  enough  to  be  her  grandfather,  caught  the 
same  disease  from  the  same  source." — Philadelphia  United  States  Gazette. 

SPRING    AND   SUMMER. 

The  Juvenile  Naturalist ;  or  Walks  in  the  Country.     By  the  Rev.  B.  H,  Draper.     A  beautiful 
volume,  with  fifty  elegant  plates.     1  vol.  square,  handsomely  bound 

AUTUMN    AND   WINTER, 

The  Juvenile  Naturalist ;  or  Walks  in  the  Country.    By  the  Rev.  B.  H.  Draper.    A  beantiful 
Tolome,  with  many  plates,  uniform  with  "  Spring  and  Summer." 


VALUABLE  PUBLICATIONS. 


"THE  YOUNG    NATURALIST'S  JOURNEY; 

Or,  Travel*  of  Agnes  Morton  and  her  Mamma.  By  Mrs.  Loudon.  V/ith  many  beautiful  pltg, 

THE   OLD   OAK   TREE. 

A  most  interesting  little  volume  of  practical  instruction  for  youth ;   illustrated  with  nearly 

tlftv  hAaiitSfiil   niatns 


fifty  beautiful  plates. 


WORKS   BY  REV.   ROBT.   PHILIP. 

THE   LIFE   AND  TIMES   OF  JOHN    BUNYAN, 

Author  of  The  Pilgrim's  Progress.     By  Robert  Philip.     With  a  fine  portrait.     1  vol.  12ajo.    ' 

THE    LIFE   AND   OPINIONS   OF   DR.    MILNE, 

Missionary  to  China. 

lllustrnted  by  Biographical  Annals  of  Asiatic  Missions,  from  Primitive  Protestant  Times  ;  intended  as 
a  Guid«  to  Missionary  Spirit.     By  Robert  Philip.     1  vol.  12mo. 

"  The  name  of  Philip  has  in  this  country,  as  well  as  in  Great  Britain,  become  a  passport  to  public 
f&Tour.  Though  the  subject  of  this  memoir  may  not  be  surrounded  with  the  same  splendid  attractions 
as  was  that  of  the  memoir  of  Bunyan,  yet  it  is  one  of  very  great  interest ;  and  to  the  Christian  reader, 
and  especially  to  those  who  are  deeply  interested  in  the  cause  of  missiims,  it  will  probably  bear  a  com- 
parison with  almost  any  that  have  gone  l)efore  it.  The  work  is  executed  with  great  skill,  and  emi)odi«s 
a  vast  amount  of  valuable  missionary  intelligence,  besides  a  rich  variety  of  personal  incidents,  adapted 
to  gratify  not  only  the  missionary  or  the  Christian,  but  the  more  general  reader." — Albany  Adv. 

YOUNG    MAN'S  CLOSET   LIBRARY. 

By  Robert  Philip.    With  an  Introductory  Essay  by  Rev.  Albert  Barnes.     1  vol.  12mo 

LOVE  OF  THE  SPIRIT,  Traced  in  his  Work :    a  Companion  to  the  Experimental  Guides. 
By  Robert  Philip.    1  vol.  18nio. 

DEVOTIONAL  AND  EXPERIMENTAL  GUIDES.     By  Robert  PhiUp.     With  an  Intro- 
doctory  Essay  by  Rev.  Albert  Barnes,    2  vols.  12mo.     Containing  : 


Guide  to  the  Perplexed. 
Do        do    Devotional. 
Do        do    Thoughtful. 


Guide  to  the  Doubting. 
Do        do    Conscientious. 
Do        do    Redemption. 


LADY'S  CLOSET  LIBRARY. 

AS    FOLLOWS  : 

THE  MARYS ;  or  Beauty  of  Female  Holiness.    By  Robert  Philip.    I  vol.  ISrao. 
THE  MARTHAS ;  or  Varieties  of  Female  Piety.    By  Robert  Philip.     1  vol.  18mo. 
THE  LYDIAS ;  or  Development  of  Female  Character.    By  Robert  Philip.     1  vol.  18mo. 

The  MATERNAL  SERIES  of  the  above  popular  Library  is  now  ready,  entitled 
THE  HANNAHS;  or  Maternal  Influence  of  Sons.    By  Robert  Philip.     1  vol.  18mo. 

"  The  author  of  this  work  is  known  to  the  public  as  one  of  the  most  prolific  writers  of  the  day,  and 
•carcely  any  writer  in  the  department  which  he  occupies,  has  acquired  so  extensive  and  well-merited 
a  popularity.  The  present  volume,  as  its  title  denotes,  is  devoted  to  an  illustration  of  the  influi-ncc 
«f  motheis  on  their  sons  ;  and  the  subject  is  treated  with  the  same  originality  and  beauty  which  char- 
acterize the  author's  other  works.  It  will  be  found  to  be  a  most  delightful  and  useful  companion  in 
the  nursery,  and  its  influence  can  hardly  fail  to  be  felt ;  first,  in  quickening  the  sense  of  responsibi- 
lity on  the  part  of  mothers  ;  and  next,  in  forming  the  character  of  the  rising  generation  to  a  higher 
standard  of  intelligence  and  virtue." — Evangelist, 


WORKS   BY  THE   REV.  JOHN  A.  JAMES. 

PASTORAL  ADDRESSES. 
By  Rev.  John  Angell  James.    With  an  Introduction  by  the  Rev.  Wm.  Adams.     1  vol.  ISnio. 

"  We   opine  that  the  publishers  of  this  volume  made   an   accurate  calculation  when  they  labelled 
these  '  Pastoral  Addresses  ^—stereotyped  ;  for  they  are  among  the  choice  effusions  which  already  hav» 
80  highly  benefitted  Christian  society  from  the  lioble  heart  and  richly-endowed  mind  of  Mr.  James. 
....  ...  .  ,,  .         -~  '  are  offered  as  monthly  epistles 

filiness  of  the  Church  ;  Spiritu- 


They  ate  ministerial  counsels  to  the  members  of  his  congreg.ation,  and  are  offered  as  monthly  epistles 
ibr  a  year,  being  twelve  in  number,  ant  are  thus  entitled :' Increased  Hoi 


40  D.  APPLETON  &,  CO.'S 

ality  of  Mind  ;  Ileavenly-Mindedness  ;  Assurance  of  Hope  ;  Practical  Religion  seen  in  every  thing  ; 
A  Profitable  Subbath  ;  Christian  Obligations  ;  Life  of  Faith  ;  Inlluence  of  elder  Christians  ;  Spirit  of 
Prayer  ;  Private  Prayer,  and  Self-Ejcarninatioii.'  " — Christian  Intelligencer. 

"  Simple  in  their  style,  and  evangelical  in  their  sjiint,  these  addresses  embody  most  of  those  desire- 
able  influences  which  a  zealous  pastor  wishes  to  see  operating  amongst  his  people,  and  they  are  such  as 
cannot  fail  to  be  of  great  practical  utility  to  all  who  will  bestow  upon  them  a  serious  and  thoughtful 
Rttention.  The  introduction  is  by  the  Rev.  William  Adams,  of  New-York,  and  is  of  itself  alone  a  suf- 
ficient guarantee  of  the  intrinsic  quality  of  the  addresses,  stamping  at  once  their  value  and  genuine- 
ness."— Boston  Transcript. 

THE  YOUNG-  MAN  FROM  HOME. 
In  a  series  of  Letters,  especially  directed  for  the  Moral  Advancement  of  Youth.    By  the 

Hev.  John  Angell  James.     Fifth  edition,  1  vol.  18mo. 

"  This  work,  from  the  able  and  prolific  pen  of  Mr.  James,  is  not  inferior,  we  think,  to  any  of  its  pre- 
decessors. It  contemplates  a  young  man  at  the  most  critical  period  of  life,  and  meets  him  at  every 
^oint  as  a  guide  in  the  paths  of  virtue,  as  a  guard  from  tlie  contagious  influence  of  vice.  Every  young 
man  who  desires  to  form  a  virtuous  and  useful  character,  should  possess  himself  of  this  admirable 
work  ;  and  every  Christian  parent,  whose  sons  are  leaving  the  paternal  mansion  for  another  home, 
should  take  care  that  they  carry  away  with  them  this  rich  treasury  of  Christian  counsel  and  instruc- 
tion."— Albany  Advertiser 

THE  CHRISTIAN  PROFESSOR 
Addressed  in  a  series  of  Counsels  and  Cautions  to  the  Members  of  Christian  Churches.    By 

Rev.  John  Angell  James.     1  vol.  ISmo. 

"  The  author  remarks  in  this  excellent  volume  :  '  When  I  look  into  the  New  Testament,  and  read 
what  a  Christian  a/iow/d  be,  and  then  look  into  the  church  of  God,  and  see  what  Christians  are,  I  am 
painfully  affected  by  observing  the  dissimilarity  ;  and  in  my  jealousy  for  the  honour  of  the  Christian 
profession,  have  made  this  effort,  perhaps  a  leeble  one,  and  certainly  an  anxious  one,  to  remove  its 
blemishes,  to  restore  its  impaired  beauty,  and  thus  raise  its  reputation.' 

"  '  It  is  not  my  intention  to  enter  into  the  consideration  of  private,  experimental,  or  doctrinal  reli- 
gion, so  much  as  into  its  practical  parts  ;  and  to  contemplate  the  believer  rather  as  a  professor,  than  a 
Christian,  or  at  least,  rather  as  a  Christian  in  relation  to  the  world,  than  in  his  individual  capacity,  or 
in  his  retirement.' 

"  The  following  are  the  divisions  under  which  he  treats  his  subject,  viz. :  What  the  Christian  pro- 
fession imports :  its  Obligation  and  Design  ;  the  Dangers  of  Self-Deception  ;  the  Young  Professor  ; 
an  attempt  to  compare  the  present  generation  of  Professors  with  others  that  have  preceded  them  ;  the 
necessity  and  importance  of  Professors  not  being  satisfied  with  low  degrees  of  Piety,  and  of  their  seek- 
ing to  attain  to  eminence  ;  the  duty  of  Professors  to  avoid  the  appearance  of  evil ;  on  Conformities  to 
the  World  ;  on  the  Conduct  of  Professors  in  reference  to  Politics  ;  on  Brotherly  Love  ;  the  Influence 
of  Professors  ;  their  Conduct  towards  Unconverted  Relatives;  the  Unmarried  Professor ;  the  Profes- 
sor in  Prosperity  ;  in  Adversity  ;  the  Conduct  of  Professors  away  from  Home  ;  the  Backsliding  Pro- 
fessor ;  on  the  necessity  of  the  Holy  Spirit's  Influence  to  sustain  the  Christian  Profession;  the  Dying 
Professor." — New- York  Observer. 

THE  ANXIOUS  ENQUIRER  AFTER  SALVATION 

I>irected  and  Encouraged.    By  Rev.  John  Angell  James.     1  vol.  18mo. 

Twenty  thousand  copies  of  this  excellent  little  volume  have  already  been  sold,  which  fully  atteita 
tlie  high  estimation  the  work  has  attained  with  the  religious  community. 

HAPPINESS,  ITS  NATURE  AND  SOURCES. 

By  Rev.  John  Angell  James.     1  vol.  32mo. 

"  This  is  written  in  the  excellent  author's  best  vein.  He  has,  with  a  searching  fidelity,  exposed  the 
rarious  unsatisfying  expedients  by  which  the  natural  heart  seeks  to  attain  the  great  end  and  aim  of 
all — happiness,  and  with  powerful  and  touching  exhortations  directed  it  to  the  never-failing  source  of 
all  good.  The  author  does  not  engage  himself  in  speculations  or  theories.  The  results  of  extended 
obsei-vation,  the  testimony  of  well-attested  experience,  are  arrayed,  in  the  light  of  which  the  true  way 
and  the  false  are  clearly  seen.  It  is  eloquently  and  pointedly  written.  A  better  book  we  have  not  in 
a  long  time  seen." — Evangelist. 

THE  WIDOW  DIRECTED 
To  the  Widow's  G-od.  By  the  Rev.  John  Angell  James.  1  vol.  18mo. 
"  If  any  thing  more  were  necessary  to  give  this  book  currency  with  the  Christian  community  than 
the  name  of  its  author,  we  should  have  it  in  the  peculiarly  tender  and  interesting  nature  of  the  subject 
on  which  he  writes.  He  has  written  many  good  books,  and  all  belong  to  the  same  general  class  ;  and 
though  some  of  thera  are  more  generally  applicable  than  this,  yet  in  no  one,  perhaps,  has  he  discover- 
ed a  more  skilful  hand,  or  a  more  tender  and  devout  spirit.  The  book  is  worthy  to  be  read  by  others 
besides  the  class  for  which  it  is  especially  designed  ;  and  v.-e  doubt  not  that  it  is  destined  to  come  as  a 
friendly  visiter  to  many  a  house  of  mourning,  aud  as  a  healing  balm  to  many  a  wounded  heart."— J\r. If. 
Observer. 


VALUABLE  PUBLICATIONS.  11 

WORKS   BY  THE   REV.   DR.  SPRAGUE. 

TRUE  AND  FALSE  RELIGION. 

Lcctnrcs  Illustrating  the  Contrast  between  True  Cliristianity  and  rarious  other  sy«tcm«     By 
WilUam  B.  Sprajjue,  D.D.     1  vol.  l-2n,o. 

LECTURES  ON  REVIVALS  IN  RELIGION. 

By  W.  B.  Sprague,  D.D.    With  an  Introductory  Essay  by  Leonard  Woods,  D.D.    1  vol.  12au) 

LETTERS  TO  A  DAUGHTER, 

On  Practical  Subjects.     By  W.  B.  Sprague,  D.D.      Fourth  edition,  revised  and  enlarged. 
1  vol.  12aiu. 

LECTURES  TO  YOUNG  PEOPLE. 

By  W.  B.  Sprague,  D.D.      With  an  Introductory  Address.    By  Samuel  Miller,  D.D.    Fourth 
edition.     1  vol.  12ino. 

The  writings  of  Dr.  Sprague  are  too  v/ell  known,  and  too  highly  estimated  by  the  Christian  com- 
munity generally,  to  require  any  oiher  encomium  than  is  furnished  by  their  own  merits  ;  for  this  roa- 
Kon  it  is  thought  unnecessary  to  subjoin  the  favourable  lesliinonies  borne  to  their  utility  and  excel- 
lence by  the  whole  circle  of  the  periodical  press  of  this  country,  and  the  fact  that  they  have  each 
passed  through  several  editions  in  England,  sufficiently  attests  the  estimation  in  which  they  are  hold 
abroad. 


WILLIAMS'S  MISSIONARY  ENTERPRISES. 

A  Nzirrative  of  Missionary  Enterprises  and  Triumphs  in  the  South  Seas,  with  Remarks  upon 
the  Natural  History  of  the  Islands,  Origin,  Language,  Tradition,  and  Usages  of  the  Inhabi- 
tants.   By  the  Rev.  John  Wilhams,  of  the  London  Missionary  Society. 

Numerous  plates.     1  vol.  large  12mo. 

"  We  have  been  greatly  delighted  with  this  work.  And  if  nsked,  why  1  we  answer,  because  it 
furnishes  the  most  full  and  satisfactory  account  of  Polynesia,  the  isles  of  the  Pacific,  we  have  any 
\There  met  with.  2.  )t  relates  facts,  occurrences,  and  incidents,  of  which  the  author  was  eye  and  ear 
witness.  3.  It  incidently  gives  a  full-length  portrait  of  the  missionary  character  of  the  present  age  ;  a 
portrait  that  even  Satan  must  admire,  though  '  he  cannot  love.'  4.  It  fairly  developes  the  true  spirit 
of  the  Christian  missions,  and  the  principles  on  which  they  are  successfully  conducted.  5.  It  exhibits 
the  astonishing  power  of  the  gospel  in  the  transformation  of  the  most  degraded  class  of  human  beings. 
(}.  It  evinces  the  inseparable  connexion  between  Christianity  and  civilization  ;  between  the  gospel  re- 
ceived, and  man's  present  happiness,  7.  It  illustrates  the  grace  of  God,  as  displayed  in  the  triumphant 
death  of  heathen  converts.  8.  It  exposes  the  ignorance  and  wickedness  of  those  who  misrepresent  the 
design  and  operations  of  Christian  missions.  9.  It  demonstrates  that  the  '  isles  of  the  sea'  are  waiting 
for  God's  law,  and  that  God's  time  has  come  for  their  conversion.  10.  It  urges  powerfully  to  greatly 
enlarged  effort  for  the  '  immediate  emancipation'  of  all  the  slaves  of  Satan  from  the  bondage  of  thou- 
sands of  years. 

"Besides  these,  we  might  state  many  other  reasons  for  our  high  satisfaction  with  this  transatlantic 
volume.  It  is  written  in  a  style  of  great  simplicity,  in  a  spirit  of  great  meekness,  in  a  tone  of  candour 
and  modesty,  that  we  much  admire.  It  conveys  no  small  amount  of  valuable  geographical  and  geolo- 
gical information  ;  much  of  it  new  to  us,  and  probably  to  others.  It  is  replete  with  distinct  references 
to  the  hand  of  Divine  Providence,  and  with  devout  reflections,  that  render  it  valuable,  even  as  an  '  aid 
to  devotion.'  It  is  throughout  highly  attractive  for  the  variety  of  its  matter,  for  the  fairness  of  its 
occasional  discussions  on  some  mooted  questions  of  natural  history,  &c.,  for  the  light  it  throws  on  the 
social  condition  of  different  tubes  of  savages,  and  their  intellectual  character,  and  for  the  continui'.y 
of  the  whole  story. 

"  Other  minds  may  not  be  affected  like  our  own.  But  if  the  practised  reader  of  novels  and  romances 
finds  the  charms  of  fiction  working  as  powerfully  to  withdraw  his  mind  from  all  things  around  biin,  a* 
we  have  found  the  charms  of  these  authentic  '  Missionary  Enterprises '  working  on  ourselves,  we  won- 
der not  at  his  attachment  to  them,  however  unjustifiable  it  may  be.  After  once  entering  fairly  into 
the  spirit  of  the  narrative,  it  is  hardly  possible  for  us  to  conceive  of  a  pious  miud  that  can  '  let  it  go  ' 
till  it  shall  have  been  '  devoured.' " — Evangelist. 

MISSIONARY'S  FAREWELL. 

By  the  Rev.  John  Williams,  author  of  "  Missionary  Enterprises,"  &c. 

1  viil.  ISmo. 

THE  MARTYRED  MISSIONARIES. 
Memoirs  of  the  Rev.  Sjunuel  Munson  and  the  Rev.  Henry  Lyman,  late  Missionaries  to  the 
Indian  Archipelago,  with  the  Journal  of   their  Exploring  Tour.     By  the  Rev.  William 
Thompson.  1  vol.  12mo. 

DISCOURSES  ON  THE  NERVOUS  SYSTEM 
Select  Discourses  on  the  Functions  of  the  Nervous  System,  in  opposition  to  PhrenoxOgy, 
Materialism  and  Atheism  ;  to  which  is  prefixed  a  Lecture  on  the  Diversities  of  the  Human 
Character,  arising  from  Physiological  Peculiarities.    By  John  Augustine  Smith,  MJ^. 

1  vol  }2mOt 


12  D.  APPLETON   &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

LAFEVER'S  MODERN  ARCHITECTURE. 

Beanties  of  Modern  Architecture  :  consisting  of  forty-eight  plates  of  Original  Designs,  with 
Plans,  Elevations  and  Sections,  also  a  Dictionary  of  Technical  Terms  ;  the  whole  forming 
a  complete  Manual  for  the  Practical  Builder.    By  M.  Lafever,  Architect. 

1  vol.  hirge  8vo.,  hiilf  bound. 

LAFEVER'S  STAIR-CASE  AND  HAND-RAIL  CONSTRUCTION. 

The  Modem  Practice  of  Stair-case  and  Hand-rail  Construction,  practicadly  explained,  in  v 
series  of  Designs.  By  M.  Lafever,  Architect.  With  Plans  and  Elevations  for  Ornamen- 
tal Villas.    Fifteen  Plates.     1  vol.  Jurge  8vo. 

HOD&E  ON  THE  STEAM-ENGINE, 
The  Steam-Engine,  its  Origin  and  Gradual  Improvement,  from  the  time  of  Hero  to  the  pre 
sent  day,  as  adapted  to  Manufactures,  Locomotion  and  Navigation,     Illustrated  with  forty 
eight  plates  in  full  detail,  numerous  wood  cuts,  &c.     By  Paul  R.  Hodge,  O.B. 

1  Vol.  folio  of  plates,  and  letter-press  in  Svo. 

"  The  letter-press  volume  furnishes  a  comprehensive  history  of  the  invention  and  the  various  im 
provenients  which  have  been  made  in  the  steam-engine,  from  the  earliest  period  to  the  present  time, 
together  with  such  practical  rules  and  explanations  as  are  necessary  to  enable  the  mechanic  to  design 
-  ad  construct  a  machine  of  any  required  power,  and  of  the  most  improved  form,  for  any  of  the  numer- 
»us  ai>plications  of  steam.  For  the  purpose  of  rendering  the  reference  from  the  letter-press  to  ih« 
plates  more  convenient,  the  engraved  illustrations  are  published  in  a  separate  volume,  in  the  ftjlio  form 
These  plates  are  all  drawn  to  certain  scales,  and  the  diineasions  of  every  part  may  b«  taken,  aad  ma- 
chines built  from  any  of  the  designs. 

"  The  most  recent  and  approved  engines  of  their  respective  classes  appear  to  have  been  selected, 
and,  with  four  excepl ions  only,  are  all  of  American  construction  and  arrangement.  The  volume  of 
plates,  as  a  work  of  the  art  of  drawing,  forms  one  of  the  most  splendid  specimens  that  has  ever  f»llea 
under  our  observation.  Mr.  Hodge,  the  author  of  this  truly  practical  and  valuable  work,  is,  it  will  b« 
recoliectcd,  tlie  inventor  of  the  steam  fire-engine,  the  utility  of  which,  in  extinguishing  lires,  has  b«eA 
fully  tested." — Courier  ^  Enquirer 

THE  PRINCIPLES  OF  DIAGNOSIS. 

By  Marshall  Hall,  M  D.  F.R.S.,  &c.     Second  edition,  with  many  improvements,  By  Dr 
John  A.  Sweet.     1  vol.  Svo. 

This  work  was  published  in  accordance  with  some  of  the  most  celebrated  physicians  of  this  country, 
who  were  anxious  that  it  should  be  brought  within  the  reach  of  all  classes  of  medical  men,  to  whos« 
attention  it  offers  strong  claims  as  the  latest  and  best  work  on  the  subject,  and  as  being  calculated  to 
fill  a  blank  in  the  medical  library,  the  existence  of  which,  hitherto,  has  been  generally  admitted  aad 
deplored. 

KEIGHTLEY'S  MYTHOLOGY  FOR  SCHOOLS. 
The  Mythology  of  Ancient  Greece  and  Italy,  designed  for  the  Use  of  Schools.    By  Thomas 
Keightley.    Numerous  wood-cut  illustrations. 

1  vol.  18mo.,  half  bound. 

HAZEN'S  SYMBOLICAL  SPELLING-BOOK. 
The  Symbolical  SpeUin."-  -'Sook,  in  two  parts.    By  Edward  Hazen. 

Containing  288  engravings. 

MY  SON'S  MANUAL. 
Comprising  a  Summary  View  of  the  Studies,  Accomplishments,  and  Principles  of  Conduct,  be«t  •uited 
for  promoting  Respectability  and  Success  in  Life.     Elegantly  engraved  frontispiece. 

1  vol.  18mo. 

MY  DAUGHTER'S  MANUAL. 
Comprising  a  Summary  View  of  Female  Studies,  Accomplishments,  and  Principles  of  Conduct.   B«a«> 
tifal  frontispiece.  1  vol.  18mo. 

ELLA  V ; 

Or  the  luly  Tour.    By  one  of  the  partyr.     1  vol.  12mo. 
"  He  can  form  a  moral  on  a  glass  of  champagne." — Le  Roy. 

CRUDEN'S  CONCORDANCE. 
Containing  all  the  Words  to  be  found  in  the  large  Work  relating  to  the  New  T«9tament. 

I  vol.  IBmo. 

THE    POLYMICRIAN    NEW    TESTAMENT. 
Numerous  References.   Maps,   &c.     1  vol.  18mo. 


NEW  AND  ELEGANT  WORK 


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OR 

RAMBLES  THROUGH  ARABIA  PETR^EA  AND  THE 

HOLY  LAND, 

DURING  THE  YEARS  1839  AND  40. 


By     JAI\IES     E.     COOLEY. 


With   numerous    Steel  Engravings,   Etchings    and    Designs,  by 

Johnston,   &c. 

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